% *■ ^ ^ 

^ * % ^ • 

• ^ • • > 

• • « » . « « 

.***•.•'• * 

> **.*»ti***. 
* « • » « • • 

► ' « • • - « • . 
•^ • • • .• •• 
^ • • • • . • 

», •-* • »'-•’ 

> - • . ♦ » • • « « 
, • • •. « • • 

• •*s*»*** 

• « « > • t 

• « • • • 

yr .'.'^ U ’ 

' * « % • « • 

• « • « 

■ «•«••. 

:•,* *.♦ • ’ 

- • •««%(. 


■ •»•••< 

• »’ * • *•' 

»• ■ « « • • I 


♦ «.. * » , •v*', • • 

• • **\ '• k**fc‘« •*«*r*i’ r* ** •■ ***’ *«'**•* 2*. 

‘ • • • . . I . . ;•*',***.•.*.• :• *•* *’•* 

^ v;.* W'W' .*,•:• •.• ’ , . 

’,'.*!<,’*********i*.*4*.‘«*.*r*.'.^.*.» • *■. 

• . y. ! ‘ . 

» • \ *.‘l •! •*•!•* ****»‘« *•* • 

• v‘.-% . .‘■.vt. 

‘i*. •' 

« •%•«««« 

• % • 4 • « . • « • 

* *' 9 % % 9 •.« 


^ * * * • • • • 4^% « A * - ».*••• 

. :!* ''>11 •‘•**‘‘ **••**• •‘• i '.' i **’.* 

• -• «.*'• *4* w* • « • . , .*» , .‘•V*.*;’ 


** * 

. 2 * *• * *;•.• '.*’* 

• %*. 

■!*-» '■ • •,•» ...» A, 

* ' • i-*.* •• ^ 

•-' ■••• At A .1, «^, , 

•-•»••••■ •• 


• * « « 


• • « 

• f 1 

« • 4 •• 


• • 4 

^ 4 • • 

9 •, 9 4 ■ 

* 4 * 


• 4 ' • 9 .9^ 0 4' 

4-4^4 4,9,, 

* ♦ " « . 

*-* • •• « . 


• 4. • « 

• ' « « , • • * . < 


' ••• » . • 


.4 4 «■ • *,%..4 4*^ ^ *4 4 • 4 4 •.« ^ 4,^ 

4 m 4 • V'4.r4 i* * « « • • * • * 

*. • « t* » - v». 

• *.*•• • •••«•.• «*.*» I* « .!«•.•_** * ‘ 4-4.4 

*i*V ;"i***’>‘*f '4 ‘•'■**4*‘«’>>I'l 


‘ * . ' . 4 * • A. 4 , , ^ - •*-> • ♦ »• • • • • • **»4AA-l^^*^*-4***^**. 


* *:*.• • •-••• ♦ 4 ••'4* . ,*.•.• j * • •■ 4-*-« '4-4 »-4 . 4 • .T; «*4*i’.'.*. 




V4 

^ ^ 4 t ••• •%«.« m 9 4 4 0 •.« 


9‘^ * P ' m • 4 





• . *4'. • V *• *4 ■ .* 


• •r4'<**-»**;*-* 4 -•,♦•*.• .* 4 ,”4*, 4 

>■ . .’. 4 »• » T» li • . : L* ■* ■•■ • • * ' 4 4 44 «• • 

• • ••• ••■ » t • « »t.t2 I . I*.4 *■* ’ * 4 4 • » 4 • 


‘*•* 4 . . • 4 -. * 4 * 4 *. 


4 . • 4 « • 4 4 4 •*«*« *.*.*.*.*.4 * * •••••t»4 * 

• '« 4 4 •.« -• »-« 4 4 , 4 * .* 4 * 4 *. ^ i* . *■. *• * 4 ». • 

'*4*.*. ••4*, ♦44;*}4j4 44..*.. 4. 

.» 444. 4. ■ ..» • 4 » . , ^4 4 •^4-4-»««4 ».4 4 * 4 


•«• • 4.4 44|4 4.4 ’4' 4*^4 • T4 -*.‘4*4* .*■.*- • ♦'• »>4.4 

• •• • 4 •w^-^ A ^ .A ■ V . 4 ■ * • « • 

V*SV.‘.*;**,*,V4 4*.* .•.4.4 .,4 4 

* % 4. # • # • « * I4 * « » . 

V .* . - 4 ..4 . . 




•^4-4 4 4 4.. -4 *4 •.4- 


• •-a*,* 4-4 4 4 -( 4 • » » . 4 . . . 4 *4 *4* , ' 2 4 . 

4'«T4-*'4*. ’.v’t;. *.*•.• ;*4-.*.* 

.*« *4 ‘ * • • ♦ • •%*. 4*;* 

4*4> I«*i ;i*,T4t,*;?4 
‘^•i*4* ;*4*»******’-**"‘**'* ***•■•*•*•*■ •-.‘it .r.v f 

-4-*.. 4 4 4.4.4'4 * 4 *.« . . 4 , • • {!, 4*. i*2. 

4'.. ■ • ••• * «.«4-4 4« 4 . 4 .444 *4 -44. >4 44 . -.4 Tt rl I 


^ 4 P p*4 


• r*l* • • * 4 # ••*.« « 4 4 A 

::: : 

•.'•!4*4%%*.‘.**’.‘4r4*'i* • •*-•4 •\**‘4‘4*,':***. 

•• .4 4 . ^4*. “l* 

• • « , a • 

P 4 49^4 4 0 4 

7* 4 4 t 4 4 i 

• 4 • 4 « - • « 4 

• 4**i*4-« • « 

r # » #4 « 4 «. 

. * # • * « • « 

« « * • # • 4 

• • # tf- • y t 

• • 4 444 

9 i 4 4 ¥ 4 

0’ 4 .4 4*4 4 4. 

• • • 4 4 % 4 4 

• > f . • « •*«.« 

• ♦ • •*♦*4^*' 

• ♦ ..•<'» i 

4 ■ 4 0P 4 4 m 9 
4 4 W 4 9 4 4 

4 4*9, .» P,*P ,4 

^ ^ « 4 *4 

• * • . • 4 * * « 

4 P *4 4 4 p 9 

4 4 4 m 0 4 

<“• • •»* 4 • 

a • 

■4*4*9 4 9 9.9 

i 4 9 « • • « 4« « 

4 »4 4.904 • 

» ^ 4 •.9.*. 

•' • * 

• P 9 9 ,4 4 

*90^4 • ••4« 

• 4^ •* 9 w 9 

■9*909 9.4P4 


9 P 9 y9.P 4 .4 4 #a ^ 

• ♦ P ^4 % P • 4 9.9 

•*4 a. # 4 -4 4*4 4-4 .4-44 .4 

» • - ^ ^ f 

I 4 » •-.24 • - • 4 ' : a 1. 

4*^4. • • *.4 

‘'4 4 4 4 • 9 » *'« • 

»-«'4-444.4.«4444.4.4'., 

• * .« • 

• 4. a - • .. .4. 4^4 - f -a , 4 4 4 

••'44 4-4 • 4.44 4 4 4 

4_«^» « 44*444 4 ... 

44,4'4« 4* *«.« * 

<-44, t4»*4* 4 ,7 

• ••.•.•.Vi'.W:*.* 

-4-4 , 4 r • - • •• 4 • 4 -4 • 4 - • -4 

» ‘ < “-4 4 • <.4 f 4.14 

4. a. 4 -44. .4 44 . 4. 4 4 a. 4, 

^ k-% • • 4 k-a< 

* ••• • • • 44.94 

*2“ • **• •- • » • '-4 .4 - » • • 

• • t-4 ► 4v<-, a,4. 

• • •• 4-. • 4 4 a4-4-a 

' 4a4-a4 ^4.. a 

•.«-* ♦-* 4 , ' <*4 *4*4 *4- 

4 p 4 9 4 9.4^90^ 

4 • 9 4 P p 4^P ^ 4 9 Pp 9 

•** a 4''.'4*.'’i a'i!,* , 
4‘.*,*;^.’.'4r;»;*;t,.?r 

4.4 4 » . a , a 4 . , ^ 

•4 > > -4 -4 .4 • • * 4 -a 4 a a 

»»4»4 -4,. »,«»-. 

4a4-4444a4a4 * 

•44. . 44*4, 

< a 4, *-•-.4 4 , , 4 ^ 

• » 4-4-a-4 4 < 4 t-4>4 

••••.♦•»«*<*«44. 

•a444 4 4.4 4.4 4 4 4-a 

' a;'.*.* «•»«••, 41 

•.* • 44.4 44 4-. 

«-4>444 4.4'4 4-4 4-,. 4 

• ^ •« « * • *>9 9 ■ P •-•.9^ 

494 4 9P. $49^ 

• V •• * ^4 *099 ■ ^ 

♦2* • • • • • 9-9 9 0 p 

4 • •• V • 4PP 9 9.9- 

**-'>4^>*4'4‘.!.'4-.*,* 

4 4 -‘4 4*4*.',*4'.‘.‘,* 

,* . • 4 - 4 '% • 4 4 4-4,4 4 • 

4.4-* •-4.4-4 <.4 V a... 

•■' ' ' j' 4 <.4 4 4., .4 

4- 4 4 ••4-4 • 

• 4. 4 . .,-4 4-* * . , 4 4 

•».» 4.*4, 4. .4*4 

a - •*:* 4 4,4. 

irr. TM.ra'a:.'. •.»:*• 

• • • • » • • 9 * 4 9 4 » 4 

4 ■'9 *4^4*9 9m4*9 4 p . 

• ' ’ 4 4 • 4 t 9 0 4 

4*4.4 P9^t 04 *$ .9 0444 *4*^ 9 * 
4^4 4. P.404 4 P..4 4 p.*p*, 

•-* •-• • a. 44. 4 » 

-a-a .4*4*. “i!*'*?,*, 

. , . • 4.4 . 4-4-. -a. 4. 

• a. 4<-.,.4<a,4. 

• • • «-• « . 4 4 4 

*-»-.-4-'4.4.*-4., 

-4-4. 4.. -4 a 4 •-• <* 4- 4 

<44-. 

4 •-•.4 4a,-. 4-4 4 4 

. « •-.-4-. . a 4 • ♦-. 

, . a-*. ..4 4 . 

• 4 444 4 44 , . 4 .,. 4 ,4 - * 

4 4-l-| .4.<.».«.4 4 4 4 ■ 

• 44-4 4 4-4 4. 4, *-4 4 

4, a-, -a • ."a 4 4^«.• 

••* < 4-a-, - . a 

'• 4 44 4 4 

• ♦ * - • > . » «4t . 

*•» • \-4.« 4-4-4 4' #2* 

**«'4»* 4a, .4-. 4 .4. 4 4- 

• «-4 a •<4-4-t-4-4 

a-'.’*" ' ’ *4 *' .*•*.' 

• 4 • 4 • 4 4<f 4^4-4. >a. 

• ■• « 4-4.4 < i 4-44 4Z 

4 4 4. 4 4 a «. 4.4,;* 4 

•4 •• 444a9.f4-.4-4 

.■* -4 •••4-. .aa 

• •4, • ■. • p 4 9.-9 *. 0 . p 

-9.9 9p4»0 9 m P0P.9-4.4- 

4 9. 9 9 4 '9 4 *P 9 k . 4 9 

-* • .4 • a. * a- a- 4 .4 - 

P 4 p. • m ■ 9 9 4 0. m « 9. 

^•^9 • 94.4 . p p p .9 9 . 9 . p 

4-4*4 . 9 ^9 •.•^•*•79!,* ^ ' 

*•*»»•• a 4^ 9 49 4 • . • 

P04* 4 ■ 9 PP*404490494m409m 

• P *4 4 0 04.. 9 ^0 4 ^ ♦r* 4.«.9 

p 4*940 0 0 9 »•#,» 

• * P 90 P 4 t 9 y 

9 4 4 P.9 P'P % 9 4 . 9 . • 4^ « a.. 

4 4 4.4 4 , 4 i 4-i.4. 4 

• * ' aa4 * .,*» 4 

• 4 . 4 ••*,,4,,, , 

4 ,.<.•., ... a 4 ,.4 4 

a.4.,’>4.4 4-4 4. > 4-, •.. 

P • 4 9 9 4 9 • 4 P * 4 4*. 4 ^ 

4 • 4* 9 9 9 4. . 0 9 0 0 0.0 

• • 9 0,. 9 4-990.0 4 4 p 

P'0.409 4 . 

** P P ' 4 ' 9 . 9 4 * 9 4 ■ 0 ' p p 

•;*.-.,:.:4ti*r' 

• at . »» 4 4-4 

• 4 «-4-.4 4--.-,.*-4-.,— 

••4v. • . 4 -444-4 ,.4 4*1 

••4».4-. • « » . a 

*4i‘'*'** •-•'4.4»*4-l 

• * 4 a 4-4 4 • 1*4 1 

4 ► • , . . --4 4 4 . 4 

. 4*,*-* *.* * *• • 

.'•--<• ** *4 ••44 

• . .■4-4-t 4-«-< 4 4.4 

• • ‘ • • . 4 . ■ « . • . 

• • P* 4* 9 *-4 - m mP *9 

5 ^9 4 0 0 ... 0 0,0.00 

• P ' 9 0 0 0 9 P ^ 9 . 0 .. 0 »•« 

• P P • • 0 0 . p 0 0 ‘ 0 

' • ^ ♦ • - • . • * ♦ • . • 

*4*.*i*4 *,*>>,* '■"t****^ 

• • . • 4 • 4. 4. •'.1.4.1, 

-a «-•-•. 4-* • «.* 4 ,., 

• * • • < - 4- ••• a. .4 a< 

4 • 4-'. .-4-4 4 ,4 . . 

• a »-4 aa. 4.4 4 4 4-« 

* •.*•* • • • •» 

• * ^ 0 0 9 ^ - 4 

• • •-a*. 9 

4 4-9 49- 9* 9 .P00 ,0^ 0 .0 \ l 

• 9^ 4*4* 4* 0^T * *t*'*'* 

•;*'*4*.*-4 4 1 4 1 4 ! 4 ' « * 4 1 1 

*'***9'9t*4«4 9aA 4. P* 0 0 

4f994.4 .4.4 9^9 49^0^ 

*-• • • 0 0.0 0 9.4. 

• 9 • 4 4 9> •••'. 9 .^. A 

'•l* * 9^4 940. p.0 0.0T0 

4 m. 4 * 4 40 0^ 0p*90,0 .*4,0 »4 ^0.0 
p •‘9 4 9 . 0 9 0 • 0 «.9 0 

• •* 9^4 4^t 

a.,. 4.4.. , • 4 4 4 4-4-4 

. • •,« ^ 4 J 

9 • 9 * 

I « 9 yf « 4 *9 «9 y « 9 4 4 P44P4P09 

0 9 0 . 0 • «.» 494 4 0 


•:4- 

*« 4 4 


a a 0 , 

9*0 -p 

• 

• at 9 

• 9 


• I • • 

! • ^4 •• • 

•4^44 


«^4 •• •• 
4-4 f 

■rr. 
« * « < 
• • 4 « 

*. 9 9 ' 

•4 »9 4 
• » . * 
4.4 4 

9.494 
9 0 
4 ‘ 4 9 

* 4 ■ • t - 
- 4 9 

• • • *> 
9 • • 

t • • 4 

























- '».** A < - 

♦ 

■» O 

'^o ^ : 





Vi-'’ 0 ® " ® -* 



“• ^MrS 




'* vP V 

/ 'J.'^ 

- A 

^ ' 

- ^ V 

o A vv „ 



® ' %, ^ ♦‘TTi*' -<j 

*■ . 6?. ^ • .jv V. <" . A'h > . (Z. ^ • 


<* *3^ A 

<=> 



4 0* 

>» A* vev *" ’&'1 R?$S;nO*'v° y' >• <C^ •*^ *" 

»* C' 0 ^ 

’■ v'^ ---^ % ‘'” 0 ^ °^^‘'“» , 

/iVA*- a''.‘^!SI^'. \„ 

^ • ^m^//Ai vv ” 

z'- ciP 

'cf'j. -.G^ '0.7* A 

*♦ 'O c®“®-» ■'<5*^ 








hi- ^ x'V »■ 


* 1,^ • 


* A 4<r 




V^TT. *'* .,,^^ ‘V aO 
•c .‘y?^'. •%. ' 


4> c®"®-* 

«i *5^ ^ 

'^'-•^ ^^<§’ .[ 

: 4- 9^ •. ■ 







* K^ '"^^i ** 

T <s .<LV • 



J%<^' 


* •. 



^ .0^ -o.k- A. ^ '"'T.*' <G^ ^o.*- A 

.»0 t* '^-» .®-J>SSfv /•V t* .-i 4’f^ 

< '^O ft «» ■*^1 •<? ^ ^>*• a 






o. 

« 


JP'nJ.. 




jp-n^. *' 



PREFACE. 


My object in writing this little book is to 
draw the attention and sympathy of the public 
to those domestic animals whose paths through 
life are so closely interwoven with our own. I 
feel certain that very few human beings would 
be cruel or cause needless suffering if in this 
busy push of life they could be brought to stop 
and think. 

In my story of the adventures of the two 
horses I have kept very near the actjial facts as 
they came under my observation. With “Old 
Pete” I was well acquainted and his life went 
out exactly as I have related. 

And if, while pleading for the horse, I have 
said a word that would cast a helpful ray of 
light in the life of some young person coming 
to manhood or womanhood, I will feel it some- 
thing to be immeasurably thankful for. 

The Author. 


Pride goeth forth 07i horseback grand and gay, 

But cometh back on foot, a7id begs its way; 

Fame is the fragrance of heroic deeds, 

Of flozvers of chivalry and not of weeds! 

These are familiar proverbs; but I fear 
They 7iever yet have reached your knightly ear. 

What fair renown, what honor, what repute 
Can come to you from starving this poor brutef 
He who serves well and speaks not, merits more 
Than they who clainor loudest at the door. 

Therefore the law decrees that as this steed 
Served you in youth, henceforth you shall take heed 
To comfort his old age, and to provide 
Shelter in stall, and food and field beside!''' 

— Longfellow. 


Copyright, iQOj, by Lottie McCord. 









w :-T I? 

r ■ >/ ,' I, ^ 

pM< ■ . *ii 

4^ 





T 


> ^ 



't fiT 


•#1 




».'■ .'J ' lM, < 

* f-l 




LI 


*j ■' 






J 


4, ^*• 


■ -RSf* ,/l 

' . ' ‘‘'' :... ■ * * >i 


4. * 


,w 


SKf 










A' I 





♦ - 


> < 


^ iit 


7i 




f « 




‘ti 


^0 


\ 


”!a 


in J . « ' 

■D> 


- i , 


v^i 


rt 






^ « 




i?i 


v< 


*J> 




«• • 


it 


r 




t/ 




•--j •* 


w-'f- 






f >■ 


I . ’ • ^' 


^C'sei 


'*1 


!>*' 

J\J .J V.* - 




** / 

t 


» r. 


9 .• 


'1 % 


.v*- 


XV-W>^J 




rr 


I ( 


* f I 


L^t 




I I 




t V 


as 


b A 


\<» 


1' 


■ • • II 


¥ 


}■ I 


<*». 




» 


3 


Vl( 










.Vs I 


IV 


VVa 


!% 




V ‘ « ■/ ' 


j' r ® I ' ‘■>i 


t J 


* f .-: 


4 - *■ -* 




Lkt 


A L* 


it' 




M'™ ! u » 

/ i .f 

• :• 9 


Him * 


>VI 






r.' * 


f t 


• I • ♦ 


^ I 


■ ^ ‘ -v .i 


}> 


m 




1 * 1 ' 


' j. 


.1 


kjt 


fc^i •• * 


,i ..r *» 


* j 


• X . 


k t 


'( t 


Tif 


♦ • I 




••Tii 


I ' 




* « 


k ^[ 


I I 


M . 






V 




% V 


tif;' 




i' 


Ll^' 




fi 








In 


.iy. 


s' > 






•iiL 


•S< •• ^ 

M •# dfc- -St;; 



i 

’ .. • 


r 


’ \ ' 


f 



« 




•I 


fi 



'I . 




J 




f 

i 



^ • % 


I 

> 

I 












•J»vA^,vC 

S4^V|V.** 





■5!!?:-:-:->y.v.‘»?:-x-v.v:-gBB 





■ ••Kdsfi 



■^Ig. j!»' r*.- 




4l^v^ 





j 


\ 


0 



% 


t 







I 


THE OLD WIEEARD HOME 











ONLY A HORSE; OR, TOM’S REFORM 


PART ONE. 


CHAPTER I. 

Prince Awakens and Makes Several Acquaintances — 
He Falls into Bad Company and Is Rescued by 
Charlie Willard — Prince’s Early Training. 


T was the first day of May, and all nature 
seemed just awakening in the pastures 
of the beautiful Willard home. Every 
little flower was turning up its face to 
the sweet sunshine. There along the 
old worm fence was the dog-toothed 
violet, with its face of creamy white, 
and thick, green leaves slightly mottled 
with brown, that comes to us so early 
in the spring; then the blue violet raised 
its little head, and dotted over the green 
meadows the bright eyed daisies seemed 
almost laughing in the mellow sunlight. 
The birds were singing a mighty chorus. 
Here and there and everywhere was heard the 
little pewee with his plaintive song; then the 


2 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


robin, and the sweet notes of the field lark. The 
mocking bird was singing loudly the song of 
all birds from the topmost branch of a nearby 
elm tree, and in his enthusiasm often flying up, 
turning over, showing the white spots on his 
wings and alighting again on the very same 
bough. 

On that morning. Prince, then only a very 
small horse, awakened. Getting up in a very 
wabbly manner on his long, big-jointed legs, 
he moved his small body about in an uncertain 
way. He put out his little nose first this way, 
and then that way, but no mother could he find. 
Very much like you and me in times of trouble, 
he did not stop to listen to the birds sing or to 
look at the flowers, but went trotting along the 
best he could, though almost falling at times. 
Again he walked slowly, whinnying or uttering 
his little wail of anguish, searching in a be- 
wildered way for his missing mother. 

At last this tiny horse — for he was very 
young — saw, at what seemed to him to be a 
very great distance, several dark objects. The 
dark objects began to move toward him. Now 
the little horse advanced more slowly, while 
one of the dark objects, which proved to be a 
mule, came to meet him. 

Slowly and timidly this small horse put out 


TOM^S REFORM. 


3 


his little nose. Then the great big mule put 
out his great big nose until the two noses 
came together. Here the mule, struck with the 
ridiculousness of the situation sang one of his 
prettiest songs and jumped straight up in the 
air, coming down very near this tiny horse. 
Then setting his ears forward, while a spirit of 
fun seemed to vibrate through him, he took 
the helpless colt between his hard hoofs and 
began rolling it back and forth on its back. 

The other mules were coming to join in the 
sport when Charlie Willard came riding down 
the lane whistling loudly, enjoying the beauties 
of nature as only a happy farmer boy can. 
Looking about him to see that all was well in 
his father’s pasture, he saw the mules and 
hastened to the rescue. 

Charlie was one of those boys who looks at 
you half bashfully, never forgetting to lift his 
cap — no matter how plain or how much worn 
it might be — to a lady, or to speak in that low, 
respectful tone which immediately gains your 
confidence. 

Quickly routing the mules with his long whip, 
he slipped down to the ground, and taking the 
stunned and frightened little colt in his arms he 
stroked it gently, until reassured it ceased 
trembling. 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


On examination he found it not much hurt — 
only a few bruises. His next care was to get 
the colt out of the way of harm. This was no 
small job, as a baby horse has a will of its own 
and rebels against .being either led or pushed 
along. 

At last Charlie landed it in a place of safety 
and started in search of the mother, which was 
a handsome black mare, and one of a spirited 
match team that was highly prized. 

Vainly Charlie sought her over the pastures 
and fields. His father posted her at the nearest 
towns, but without avail. After a time all 
arrived at the conclusion that she had been 
stolen. No trace of her was ever found, and 
the identity of the thief remained a mystery. 

It was thought to be an unprofitable, if not 
useless task to try to raise so young a colt, but 
Charlie begged his father to give it to him. 
Mr. Willard, glad to get the responsibility off 
his mind, told Charlie to do the best he could 
for the colt and if it lived it should be his. 

That was one of the proudest days of his life. 
He now had something to work for. He was a 
property owner, and was envied by all the boys 
of his acquaintance. Charlie gave it much of his 
time and attention, and the colt thrived under 
his treatment, growing to be a vigorous, healthy 


rOM^S REFORM. 


5 


animal, a beautiful dappled bay, with jet black, 
wavy mane and tail. 

It would follow Charlie about like a dog. 
When he was plowing, it would follow him up 
and down the furrow. Sometimes it would 
take a spell of running in circles around him 
and his team, kicking, jumping and playing, 
then back again following the boy at the plow, 
and in the evening come home with him from 
the field. Wherever Charlie was going. Prince 
must go; whatever Charlie was doing. Prince 
was sure to be near. 

On the Willard farm the breaking in of a 
young horse began early and by degrees. In 
fact, it was not “broken” at all, as is usually 
understood by the term. It was trained. Mr. 
Willard believed that a young horse should be 
brought to understand what was to be required 
of him, rather than to be forced into an ap- 
parently impossible task. 

To Charlie was entrusted the early training 
of the colt, and his first care was to accustom 
it to the halter in being led or tied. Next, at- 
tention was given to the feet of the animal. 
This is perhaps the most important of all mat- 
ters connected with the rearing of a horse, as 
it affects not only his commercial value, but 
his comfort and health. Charlie never neglected 


6 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


to carefully trim Prince’s hoofs at the proper 
time, which is quite often with a young horse, 
for if left to themselves the feet may spread 
and become flat, or the hoof will break off on 
one side, making an ill-shapen foot or spraining 
the ankle. 

This task often repeated so accustoms a 
young horse to having his feet handled that no 
difficulty will ever be experienced in the matter 
afterward. No doubt you have seen a horse 
drawing a buggy or carriage or maybe some 
heavily loaded vehicle, go limping along simply 
because the driver did not have the courage to 
pick up the foot of an untrained horse and with 
his knife remove the gravel that was giving 
the poor beast pain. 

Before Prince was a year old Charlie had 
taught him all a horse need know about harness, 
from the bridle to the crupper, so that the colt 
cared no more for having a bit in his mouth or 
a strap buckled around him than he did for be- 
ing rubbed down with the curry comb. 

After this he was driven about the lot with 
the harness all on, guided with the lines. 

Sometimes Charlie would drive Prince about 
in this manner and have someone draw a light 
huggy or wagon after him. Thus the young 
horse was accustomed to a moving vehicle 


TOM^S REFORM. 


7 


behind him, so that he was not frightened 
when first hitched to a wagon. When this was 
done he was placed beside a trusty horse with 
which he was well acquainted. 

The same careful method was employed in 
breaking the young horse to the saddle. It 
did not frighten him much when the saddle was 
strapped on him and he was led about the lot. 
Then Charlie would ride him short distances 
and get off, so as not to tire him. He soon 
had him w’ell broke to ride, but he did not ride 
him much for fear of marring the graceful 
shape of Prince’s back. No horse should be 
ridden much while young. 


8 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER II. 

Prince Is Stolen — Charlie Gives Chase and Has Excit- 
ing Time with the Robbers— He Recovers Prince 
by Almost a Miracle — Outlaws Overtaken and 
Captured by Sheriff’s Posse. 

One morning — the morning of the day that 
Prince was three years old — Charlie awoke 
with a feeling or an impression that something 
was wrong at the stable among the horses. It 
was long before daylight, perhaps not more 
than three o’clock. He lay very still awhile, 
listening, then remembering that it was Prince’s 
birthday, he thought of how he intended to put 
him into the shafts for the first time that morn- 
ing. He had found him a splendid riding horse; 
he had tried him in double harness with the 
wagon and found him willing there. In his 
opinion the crowning act was to try him in the 
shafts. 

While Charlie’s mind ran thus, and as he was 
about dozing off to sleep again, he was aroused 
by the sound which came to him through the 
open up-stair window, of the horses pawing 
and stamping as if someone had entered the 
barn or had in some way disturbed them. 

Hastily dressing himself, he opened a door 
that from his room led to an outside stair and 



CHARLIK WILLARD 


1 










>A. 










\ % 




h 




»r - . ‘i 




M*.-’ 


V 




1 


Ki 


. I 


">•/' 




u 


v*): 


#• 


v*" 




* T-’iV*- 


* *lT#f 

" ■ -. vi'i 






y 5 r ’• v;^ 


' f 




kr . 




U' 1 H 


.•te 


■ 1 ^' 










*« jr* ' ^ aT‘*" 


' ♦ 


?w. 


irr- 




.t • - 










« 

A ^ : \v 

/ ^ 

^ * X ^ a 




4* « a f < -• ■ f > ^. V ■ '9 , -•w • > r ^ ’ 

I V • f' “ ^ ^ •" • ** •♦** ' ' j ' ^ jt ' 

, ^ '■* 'V a ■^l'..’B 






T- 




Hi 


A 


<- 


A-v 


* ** 


r« 7 <i 




Wa- i 






•• f 






/ 




V^*''' V 


^v 




*1 


4 4 ^h\ 


^ -r 


‘fc 


«Mr« 


*4 


% * 


' . * V tw , « 

li'> . ‘ . • 

r .:?• « , Bv 


•M <■ 


, M 


/p* 








■♦ * 


Wi 






jif 


Ak" 




■.'4 


' « 


LTDt' 


7T 


V, '1*', 

V * ^ V 




H( 



T03PS REFORM, 


9 


noiselessly passed out, for he thought perhaps 
it was nothing and he did not wish to disturb 
anyone else. Hearing nothing more, he rather 
slackened his pace as he neared the barn. Go- 
ing to the nearest door, he cautiously opened it 
and looked inside. To his surprise one of the 
box stalls was empty. 

It was Prince’s stall! Where was Prince? 

For a moment he stood gazing about; then 
he went into the barn among the horses and 
examined every stall. But Prince was nowhere 
to be found. Then he tried to see if there were 
any tracks or signs outside the barn that would 
give him any light on the subject. But as 
yet it was too dark to distinguish anything of 
the kind, and the ground was hard and dry. 

As he stood trying to make up his mind as 
to what he should do, he heard the neigh of a 
horse which he immediately recognized as that 
of Prince. He started in that direction as fast 
as he could go. Soon he heard it again, and it 
seemed to be getting further away. He hurried 
forward with greater speed until he was breath- 
ing very hard. Then again he heard it, and 
this time it seemed to be nearer. 

Although he was now almost out of breath he 
pushed on, over rough and hilly places, through 
thickets and briers and tangled brush among 


10 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


the trees. Once he came near falling over the 
steep bank of a small stream, for it was too 
dark to follow an unfamiliar trail. 

At length, almost exhausted, he stopped to 
gain strength before going further. Now he 
distinctly heard the cracking of dry twigs as if 
being trod upon by horses. It was growing 
light, as the day was coming on, so hurriedly 
concealing himself in a clump of bushes, he 
watched and listened. Then what should he 
see but a man immerge from a thicket leading 
a horse and another man join him leading 
Prince! Coarse, dangerous looking men they 
were, men whom anyone might dread to meet 
alone at such an hour and place as this. He 
noticed that they were heavily armed. 

For the first time a feeling of fear crept over 
him. The cold sweat started on his forehead. 
He had nothing with which to defend himself 
if he should be discovered. They evidently 
had no suspicion of anyone being near, and 
after conversing a few moments in a low tone 
they started on leading the horses as before, 
for the over-hanging limbs were too numerous 
to admit of riding in comfort and safety. 

Charlie had no idea of giving up the pursuit, 
and after having gained his breath from the 
short rest, he was ready to follow. His hope 


TOJirS REFORM. 


11 


was that the could keep from losing their trail 
until they would pass through some community 
where he could tell his story, secure aid and 
rescue Prince if not capture the thieves. He 
let them get out of sight but not out of hearing, 
and so continued in pursuit. 

Although it was not more than seven or 
eight miles to a sm.all town, the country was 
wild and rough; but Charlie had now reached a 
locality where he was acquainted with every 
nook and thicket. He followed through tangle 
and over the roughest of country until by the 
sun he saw it must be past the noon hour. 

About this time the thieves seemed to have 
stopped on the bank of a small stream known 
to him as Crooked creek. They led the horses 
down to the water, then after tying them to a 
tree seated themselves on a log and began tak- 
ing from the pockets underneath their loose 
jackets pieces of bread, bologna sausage and 
cheese which they ate ravenously. 

Nearer and nearer Charlie crept, until from 
behind the upturned roots of a fallen tree he 
could both see and hear without much danger 
of detection. 

He noticed that each man had a large revolver 
beside him on the log. He heard the great big 
tall one with black, grizzly beard say they 


12 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


would be in no hurry as their pursuers would 
be likely to look further on. The short one, 
with square-set jaws and thin, yellow mustache, 
agrreed. The great big man took off his black, 
grizzly beard and taking out a red bandana 
handkerchief wiped his face with it, then care- 
fully adjusted it back. 

Just then Prince caught sight of Charlie and 
whinnied loudly as a horse will when he 
recognizes a friend. Immediately both men 
sprang to their feet, revolvers in hand. Quickly 
Charlie flattened himself as near underneath 
the log as possible. They searched about for 
awhile, coming near to the very log he was 
under. It seemed to Charlie his heart was 
beating so loudly they would surely hear it. 
Strangely enough, they failed to detect him, 
and seeming to arrive at the conclusion that it 
was a false alarm, seated themselves for a 
smoke. 

They did not wait long, and after dipping 
their hats in the creek and drinking, loosened 
the horses and started on. As soon as they 
were out of sight, Charlie took a drink at the 
creek in like manner. 

Although he felt very much the need of food, 
he was not discouraged but hurried after them, 
realizing that he had no time to lose. He must 


TOM^S REFORM. 


13 


come nearer to where their stopping place 
would be. Having now an insight as to their 
plans, he felt sure they would find a hiding 
place and remain there for perhaps a few days. 

The afternoon was well advanced when they 
came to a more open place, mounted and rode 
away. Charlie, almost in despair, followed as 
fast as he could, though they were soon out of 
sight and hearing. He could not give up the 
chase and Prince. He knew they would very 
soon come to rough, thickly timbered country 
again, and thought perhaps they would halt for 
the night. There was one thing in his favor, it 
was bright moonlight at the first or most of the 
night. 

Charlie now began to realize that he could 
not hold out long without some nourishment. 
Soon after this a bird flew out from almost 
under his feet, and on looking down he found 
that he had come near stepping into a lark’s 
nest. There were five large eggs in it, and on 
examination he found them all fresh. Although 
he was not the boy that would disturb a bird’s 
nest as a general thing, yet now after more 
than twelve hours without a morsel of food, it 
was a case of necessity. Breaking a small hole 
in each he put it to his mouth and sucked out 
the contents. Not a very palatable supper, 


14 


ONLY A HOJ^SE; OR, 


however, but it was a strength-giver and just 
what he needed at this time. 

It was now growing late and as he walked 
along somewhat undecided as to what would be 
the better plan, he observed a faint smoke in 
the distance, curling toward the sky as if from 
some camp-fire in the woods. 

With new energy he pressed forward, but 
found that he must be more deliberate, as the 
hardships of the day had- taxed him sorely. 
Even the most rugged of farmer boys require 
something more substantial than five bird’s 
eggs to keep their muscles in perfect trim a 
whole day. 

It must have been near twelve o’clock at 
night when he found himself close enough up 
with them to see the light of their camp-fire. 
As he approached them he almost crawled, 
fearing lest the breaking of a stick or rattle of 
the leaves would betray his presence. Again 
he was close enough to see and hear what they 
were doing. 

Near the fire — it being a little cool at night 
in the woods — the two men were playing cards. 
They had a dark, flat bottle from which first 
one and then the other would occasionally take 
a swallow or two. 

As he sat watching them he saw that they had 


TOlWS REFORM. 


15 


evidently prepared this for their hiding place. 
There were some boxes, as of food, some corn 
for the horses, and scattered about were scraps 
and remains of a supper. 

Charlie took in the whole situation. They 
would certainly stay here long enough for him 
to return with a posse for their capture. For 
him to undertake the recovery of Prince un- 
aided, was at this moment the furthest thing 
from his thoughts. 

He felt that it was now time for him to make 
his way to the nearest town for help, but being 
so fatigued he could hardly move, he did not 
hasten. Perhaps it might be the last sight he 
would ever have of the horse he loved so well 
— his own Prince that he had cared for from a 
deserted little colt. As he tarried, watching 
them while these various thoughts ran through 
his mind, they put away the cards and took a 
long pull at the bottle, then rolling up some 
sort of a bundle they had with them for a 
pillow, and placing their revolvers in handy 
reach, stretched themselves out upon the dry 
leaves. Being fatigued with the day’s journey, 
but more especially stupid from their endeavor 
to satisfy a thirst for strong drink, they were 
soon asleep. 

Charlie crept nearer. He could tell by their 


16 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


deep breathing that they were sleeping soundly. 
Dared he do it? He was standing almost over 
them now. When one man moved his arm, 
slightly changing his position, Charlie’s breath 
came in gasps. It seemed as if his heart stood 
still. If he was discovered now, all his past 
efforts had availed him nothing. For a moment 
he waited, not daring to stir; then picking up 
the two revolvers he slipped away. 

Going to the horse she untied Prince, whom 
no power could prevent from whinnying and 
pawing with delight. But the thieves were 
sleeping the sound sleep of the drinking man, 
and did not awaken. Charlie led his horse a 
short distance, then feeling that he could not 
carry both revolvers, hid one in the hollow of 
a tree. 

He now mounted Prince and with nothing 
but a rope to guide him began his joyful journey 
homeward. Knowing the country well and not 
having to seek a hidden route, he was able to 
ride most of the time, although often compelled 
to lie fiat on Prince’s back to avoid the pro- 
truding limbs. He had no trouble in guiding 
Prince, and when he came to the open the 
horse almost flew. Charlie being a good horse- 
man clung on with tenacity. 

As the gray dawn of morning was showing. 



He noticed that each man had a lar^e revolver lying beside him 

on the log. 





TOM^S REFORM. 


17 


Charlie rode Prince into the little town. He 
found the whole village in a state of excitement 
over the mysterious disappearance of himself 
and the horse. It was also rumored that a fine 
black horse had been stolen from the livery 
stable, and it was presumed that it had gone 
the same way as the one taken from the Willard 
farm. Charlie’s father had been in town soon 
after daylight the day before and spread the 
news, and telegrams had been sent in all 
directions. 

The excitement was not lessened when 
Charlie related his experience to an eager 
audience. A posse was soon formed, and 
under Charlie’s directions set out to capture the 
thieves. 

They found the two unarmed men the next 
day riding the one horse, which was quickly 
recognized as the other missing animal. It 
would have been a beautiful horse but for hav- 
ing at some time fallen into the hands of a 
follower of that cruel fashion of docking, which 
not only detracts from an animal’s beauty, but 
gives the flies an advantage that nature never 
intended they should have. 

The two thieves being identified by Charlie, 
and also having been caught with a well-known 


18 


ONL Y A HORSE: OR, 


horse in their possession, were easily convicted, 
and received such punishment as the law pre- 
scribes for those who merit it. 

There was great rejoicing at the Willard 
home upon Charlie’s return. There had been 
no rest in the household during his absence, 
and Mrs. Willard was almost distracted. 

Prince came only second in their attention. 
He had been such a constant companion to the 
boy that it was hard to consider one without 
the other. What a fine pair they made! How 
well they seemed to understand one another! 

Mr. Willard had never regretted having given 
Charlie the care of the young horse. It seemed 
to develop the boy’s character, for it gave him 
an object in life and a chance to prove that he 
was fitted for some use in the world. He had 
proven himself a good manager, and as Mr. 
Willard listened to the conclusion of Charlie’s 
story of adventure with the horse thieves, he 
saw that the boy had also proven himself a 
good strategist. 

He looked toward the future and old age with 
the consoling thought that Charlie could manage 
the farm when he was no longer able to attend 
to it. Should he be taken first, mother would 


TOM^S REFORM. 


19 


have someone to care for her whom he could 
trust. 

* * * * * * * 

Not many years after this time, a dark cloud, 
the cloud of war, hung over the country. 
There was many a broken-hearted mother, and 
many a fair maid found the name of her hero 
in the list of the dead and missing. 


20 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER III. 

On one of those first cold days of November, 
somewhat sloppy under foot, with the mist just 
turning to hard snow, and a disagreeable, north- 
east wind that sends the icy particles against 
your face so sharply that you find yourself, at 
times, trying to walk backward — and when every- 
one seems more inclined to run than to walk — 
a few time-worn buggies and wagons, and a 
miscellaneous assortment of saddle horses were 
to be seen about the gates of the old Willard 
farm. 

There were small groups of rather damp look- 
ing farmers hurrying from horse stable to cow 
house and hog lots, or looking over the farm 
implements and machinery, for it was the day 
of the sale. 

Everything was to go that day, farm and all. 

Wandering about the place in a dazed sort of 
way was a broken-hearted little old man, having 
very little to say to anyone. This was Mr. 
Willard, a once prosperous farmer. The years 
seemed to rest heavily on the drooping shoul- 
ders and bowed head. As body and mind were 
failing in strength, so everything else seemed 
slipping from him. 

His only son, at the first call for volunteers 


TOI\rS REFORM. 


21 


in ’ 61 , had rushed off as many others did, to 
give his young life, if need be, to the service of 
his country. Now the old father and mother 
could do nothing else but let the mortgage take 
the home, hoping there might be enough left to 
buy a small house and lot in the neighboring 
town, where in happier days they had together 
marketed the products of their farm. 

Mr. Willard entered the kitchen where Mrs. 
Willard was buttering rather small pieces of 
bread and placing them, together with strips of 
cheese, in paper bags to pass around to those 
attending the sale — which the recipients would 
no doubt think a very small allowance for cold, 
hungry men on a day like this. 

Mr. Willard said nothing at first, but sat down 
in his accustomed place by the kitchen stove, 
bowing his head in his hands. At last he spoke: 

“Mother, what shall we do about Prince? 
Seems like no one wants to look at anything 
but Prince. While everything else seems to be 
going for nothing, they keep bidding agin’ each 
other for Prince, and a-running up the price.” 

“Oh, I was afraid of that! How can we part 
with him? Our poor, dear, dead boy loved him 
so.” And Mrs. Willard sat down, burying her 
face in her apron. Soon she raised up again, 
saying: 


22 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“Father, we cannot part with that one horse. 
I would rather die than see him go! Oh, I can 
see Charlie now, standing on his bare back as 
he brought him to the well; then he would call 
me to see Prince get his handkerchief out of 
his pocket as he had seen the horses in the 
circus do; and then Charlie would just put his 
arms around his neck, he loved him so. He 
was gentle and kind with Charlie, always, 
though he was not so easily managed by others. 
Oh, let us try and keep just that one horse!” 
And Mrs. Willard sobbed as if her heart would 
break. 

Slowly Mr. Willard got up and went out, 
wishing in his heart that Prince was not so 
handsome, or that people would not tempt him 
when he was so badly in need of money. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


23 


CHAPTER IV. 

A Humble Dwelling — Mr. Willard Peddles Vegetables 
— Prince’s New Master. 

The beginning of the next month found the 
old couple established in a little two-room 
house on a lot at the edge of town, with little 
else on it than the house and an old shed, now 
mended and patched up, that had evidently 
been the domicile of a cow. At the one win- 
dow, or opening which had been cut out for a 
window of the shed, appearing, than disappear- 
ing with a snort, then reappearing was the head 
of a beautiful horse. 

Few who had ever looked upon the proudly 
poised head and sensitive, protruding nostrils 
could fail to recognize Prince, who, not taking 
kindly to his new quarters was trying by every 
means a horse can to show his disapproval of 
it; sometimes thrusting out his head and neigh- 
ing loudly, then kicking, pawing and stamping. 
But no use to rebel against fate; the beautiful 
home of both the old master and Prince had 
gone from them. 

Mr. Willard had rented a small tract of land 
close to his little home, and on this he and 
Prince spent many days together working to 
provide the necessities of life. Ambition had 
left the father since the war, and his interest 


24 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


seemed only in the present — to provide the 
daily bread. Wearily he toiled on his small 
piece of ground trying to raise what vegetables 
he could, and at times you would see the little, 
old man with a dark bay horse, far too showy 
and handsome for the brown harness and 
shabby, weather-beaten spring wagon, going 
from door to door with a basket of parsnips, 
lettuce or radishes. Those not acquainted with 
the circumstances would involuntarily stop and 
gaze at the strange appearance of Prince pranc- 
ing along in his very plain attire. But Prince 
loved his feeble old master, and was never 
known to really rebel, though when looking at 
him one could but feel that he would. 

In cold weather you would always know 
when Mr. Willard was going to use Prince, by 
his first bringing the bridle and carefully warm- 
ing the bits at the stove. No matter what the 
necessity for haste might be, he never could be 
persuaded to put ice-cold bits into a horse’s 
mouth as so many do — often almost taking the 
skin off the poor beast’s tongue. 

When the snow was deep and the wind was 
blowing cold, Mrs. Willard would make old- 
fashioned dry yeast and little ginger cakes, 
and Mr. Willard would go from house to house 
with them. 


TOM'S REFORM, 


25 


In this way the old couple kept from actually 
suffering so long as they had their health, but 
the time came when Mrs. Willard had to give 
up and take to her bed. With this additional 
care, what was the poor, feeble old man to do? 
He could not apply to his friends, however will- 
ing they might be to assist him, and he could 
not leave his sick wife for work that would 
keep him away all day even if he were able. 
But something must be done, and that very 
soon, to tide them through the last month of 
winter which is often the most severe. 

It was dreadfully cold, with snow flying in 
the air — a belated blizzard that seemed to bid 
defiance to the approaching spring. There was 
little food in the house. Mr. Willard’s mind 
went back to thoughts of the last resource — 
thoughts that had so often troubled them both — 
and drawing his chair close to his wife’s bed- 
side, he asked the question once again; 

“Mother, won’t we be obliged to sell Prince? 
You know Mr. Rich would be glad to give a 
good price for him for a carriage horse.” 

Mrs. Willard turned her head on her pillow 
and looked out of the window. She saw the 
snow drifting in heaps in some places, the 
ground bare in others. She watched the people 
hurrying by, the school children all wrapped 


26 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


and muffled up on their way to school, and two 
little sparrows that were hopping, twittering 
and chirping under a bare, leafless tree as if 
daring the storm. Slowly she turned back and 
simply said: 

“Yes.” 

Mr. Willard put on his great coat and cap that 
had belonged to better days, now sadly show- 
ing the marks of time, and hurried out. Mrs. 
Willard knew where he had gone. She listened 
and watched from her little window, occasional- 
ly rising on her elbow, and then lying down 
again. 

At last she saw Mr. Willard coming leading 
Prince, well groomed, holding his head high, 
and his dark wavy mane blowing back from his 
face. A great knot rose in her throat, and the 
tears streamed down between her thin and 
trembling fingers. For awhile she wept 
silently, and then wiping away her tears, said 
to herself, “It is wrong to shed tears for a 
horse.” Then again she could see the little 
colt gamboling and playing like a dog with the 
youth so fair and handsome in her eyes, now 
cold and silent she knew not where. 

Mr. Willard was met with rejoicing at the 
Rich home. Mr. Rich had long coveted the 
handsome dappled bay. He would even have 


Tonrs REFORM. 


27 


given more than was asked for the horse. Mr. 
Rich hurried off to business after showing Mr. 
Willard the barn and telling him just how he 
wanted the horse tied up in the stall. This Mr. 
Willard never did, but allowed his horses to be 
free to turn about and rest as they pleased. 

Slowly Mr. Willard tied Prince in the stall, 
then gently stroked his neck and patted his 
head as he turned to leave. Prince started, 
trembling in every limb, and neighed loudly as 
if he felt and knew that his old master was 
leaving him forever, in that strange stall and in 
strangers’ hands. Mr. Willard turned back, 
threw his arms about the horse and pressed his 
cheek to the trembling neck very much like 
Charlie would have done, and then hurried out 
of the barn so blinded with tears he could 
scarcely see his way. Again and again he told 
himself that he must not feel that way about a 
horse; but the ache was there — a dull, heavy 
ache in his heart that could not easily be 
dispelled. 

Next morning the new master came rushing 
into the barn in great haste, threw the feed into 
the trough in a sharp, quick manner, and then 
leaving, slammed the door behind him. At 
first Prince could not taste a bite, but after 
awhile his appetite getting the better of him, he 


28 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


timidly began to eat his feed. Suddenly his 
master opened the door again and set down a 
bucket of water. Prince nervously retired to 
the furthest corner of his stall and stood there 
long after his master had gone, fearing lest he 
should come back again. 

Mr. Rich considered that he had done his 
share; he had given him feed, he had given him 
water; what more? He never once thought to 
reassure the horse by stroking him gently or 
patting his neck in a fond manner as his old 
master used to do. It never entered his mind 
that a dumb animal could need sympathy; that 
it might be grieving for its old master, or long- 
ing for its old home and feeling like it was in 
prison. Yet we have everything to prove that 
the dumb brute has all of these different feel- 
ings and is keenly appreciative of sympathy. 
A few kind-hearted people, who are frequently 
called simple minded, talk to their stock as they 
pass among them, but the most of us look on 
them as a little more than mere machines. 

One afternoon, as Mr. Rich was placing the 
harness on Prince in a hurried manner for a 
drive, he let a portion of it fall to the ground 
and as a horse usually does. Prince stepped on 
it. Mr. Rich, being quick of temper, im- 
mediately kicked the horse with all his might. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


29 


when, to his consternation, the horse kicked 
back, bruising the flesh on his shin and making 
it ache as only a shin can. Mr. Rich thought 
his leg was broken, and started limping toward 
the house calling to his wife that the horse had 
kicked him. Mrs. Rich rushed out into the 
yard screaming. At that the six-months’:old 
baby sitting in its buggy on the porch near by 
started up, screaming as loudly as it could. 
The neighbors came running over and some 
boys, just out of school, seeing that some 
excitement was up, thought there must be a fire, 
and commenced yelling, 

“Fire! Fire!” 

Mr. Rich having found out that his leg was 
not broken or even seriously hurt, felt consider- 
ably chagrined as the hose cart came rushing 
up, and had a rather hard time to make proper 
explanations and still keep his dignity in the 
eyes of the small boys. 

The neighbors whispered that they had always 
known that that was a vicious horse — they 
could tell it by the look in his eyes. 

From that time on Mr. Rich had formed a 
dislike for Prince, and when he had cause to be 
about the horse he would keep as far from him 
as his arms could reach, speaking harshly all 
the while, and at the slightest motion of Prince 


30 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


would jump back rather suddenly. It must be 
noted that Prince, gaining confidence in him- 
self, and having no cause to love his master, 
would at times back around in a rather threaten- 
ing manner. 

It being the year of a presidential election, 
there were great political meetings all over the 
country. One day in the latter part of Septem- 
ber, there was to be quite a noted speaker in 
town. Delegations were coming in from smaller 
towns, bands were playing and flags flying. 
The procession was to start at ten, sharp, and 
after passing through the principal streets was 
to gather at the town park, where a stand had 
been erected for the speaker. 

Mr. Rich brought Prince out of the dark 
stable into the bright light. Everything looked 
so beautiful, the trees so green with a slight tinge 
of autumn hue, and the grass so inviting, that he 
longed to lie down on his back, roll over and 
kick up his heels in the full enjoyment of the 
fresh morning. 

Mr. Rich proceeded to hitch him to the 
carriage, and Prince might have enjoyed the 
outing had his master not put on that horrid old 
check-rein which turned his eyes right up to 
the bright sun. But Prince tried to make the 


TOM^S REFORM. 


31 


best of it, being glad to get out of the stable 
for awhile. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rich got into the buggy and 
drove off some minutes before ten. They 
found a good place from which to view the parade 
where the shade was upon them, but in such a 
position that the bright sunlight shown directly 
into the unprotected eyes of Prince. 

Cannons were booming and firecrackers could 
not be kept entirely from the small boys, while 
the marshal and his deputies were rushing 
back and forth endeavoring to keep all vehicles 
off the main street. 

As is usually the case, it was near twelve 
o’clock before the procession was known to be 
advancing. Prince, tired with waiting, and 
frightened at so many strange sights and 
sounds, was pawing and stamping with im- 
patience. 

If his old master had been holding the lines 
he would have spoken the horse’s name in a 
kind, gentle manner or gotten out of the buggy, 
stroked his neck gently and felt all along the 
harness to see that nothing was hurting him. 
That would have reassured him and quelled his 
fear; but the new master was jerking the lines 
impatiently and speaking his name harshly, 
while the pain in his neck, caused by his head 


32 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


being reined up in an unnatural position, was 
getting almost beyond endurance. He had 
vainly tried to find ease by leaning his head 
from side to side. 

Just then a large paper that someone had 
carelessly thrown on the street, rising high in 
the air, came soaring along and dipped down 
right in front of Prince. At this the horse gave 
a sudden plunge, and Mr. Rich, taken by sur- 
prise, rolled out of the buggy on his back, 
while Mrs. Rich clung tenaciously to the seat 
of the vehicle. The horse plunged again and 
again, and would have run, had he not sud- 
denly come in contact with a lamp post. 
Writhing with pain and twisting to one side he 
started backward. 

It was evident to the onlookers that the 
buggy must capsize, and Mrs. Rich would be 
trampled to death under the horse’s feet. 
Some were holding their breath, others seemed 
spellbound; no one knew just what to do. 
Mrs. Rich clung deperately to the seat. 

Someone cried, “Jump!” Someone else, 
“Stay where you are!” 

The buggy was going over, when just at that 
instant a tall colored man pushed his way 
through the crowd, and seizing Mrs. Rich in 
his strong arms, set her down as lightly on the 


T03rs REFORM. 


33 


pavement as if she had been a child, and then 
as quickly disappeared. Others now spurred 
to activity, took possession of the horse. 
Friends kindly proffered the use of their rigs. 

It was found that Mr. Rich had escaped with 
a few bruises, while his wife was unharmed. 

Of course no one thought of giving any 
sympathy to the poor, trembling beast. He 
was only a horse, a “vicious, wicked horse," 
and he was glad to get back to his dark, lone- 
some stable again. 

The procession had passed; the crowd now 
scattered. The speaking was to take place 
immediately after the dinner hour, and Mrs. 
Smith hurried home to tell Mrs. Brown over 
the partition fence that Mr. Rich’s horse had 
run away and he and his wife were both 
seriously hurt; that it was said that Mrs. Rich 
could never recover, and Mrs. Brown said to 
Mrs. Smith it would be sad for Mrs. Rich to 
have to go and leave all those little children. 

The next day found Mr. Rich seeking a 
purchaser for his horse. He would get rid of 
that vicious animal as soon as he possibly 
could. He found a man who was buying up 
horses to ship to the city, who gave him more 
for Prince than he had paid for him. Pocketing 
the cash, he went home rejoicing. 


34 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER V. 

Prince’s Varied Experiences — Dick Graham’s Owner- 
ship a Brighter Season for Prince — Dick’s Adven- 
ture — Prince in Bad Hands and Failing Fast. 

The next master that Prince knew was a 
man with coarse, harsh expression, who bought 
Prince because he thought him a strong horse 
that could pull the great heavy loads; he wished 
him to draw. Day after day Prince toiled for 
this man. Often when the perspiration was 
already streaming from every pore and the 
froth falling from his mouth, he was urged on 
with the cruel whip. 

Sometimes at the early dawn of day he would 
dream that he was on the old farm; he would 
be taking a drink from the log trough at the 
old well, the air fragrant with new mown hay, 
the birds singing overhead, or he would be try- 
ing to get the handkerchief from the pocket of 
his young master. Then again he would be 
going from house to house with his kind old 
master, when suddenly he would be awakened 
with a harsh, “Get over there!” and the fetters 
would be hastily placed on his already aching 
back. 

Once as this cruel man was urging Prince on. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


35 


with a dray so heavily loaded with lumber that 
the horse could scarcely draw it, he met a 
farmer on the crossing, whose name was Graham. 
Mr. Graham accosted him and objected 
to his beating the miserable beast that was 
already straining with all his might to move 
the heavy load, pointing out the fact that he 
had more than enough on his dray for two 
horses to draw. 

The farmer’s son who was with him, went 
up to Prince and patted him on the neck. 
Seeing his shoulders so badly bruised and 
bleeding, the boy’s heart was touched. He 
noticed what a handsome bay he was, with 
black, wavy mane and long, flowing tail, and 
thought what a splendid horse he would be if 
fairly treated. 

Turning to his father he suddenly exclaimed: 
“Father, won’t* you buy this horse for me? 
’Most every boy of my age living on a farm 
has a horse of his own, and I have never had 
one.” 

Mr. Graham replied: “Why, Dick, you need 
a horse that is a good riding horse, to drive 
cattle with, and the like. How do you know 
he would be such?” 

But the boy insisted that he would train the 
horse himself and wanted to take the risk. 


36 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


**Just think, father,” he urged, “we would 
turn him out on the green pasture and those 
miserable shoulders would soon heal.” 

The father could not withstand his boy’s 
pleadings and offered the owner a sum which 
he accepted. 

Mr. Graham and his son, whose name was 
Richard, but more commonly known as “Dick”, 
returned to their home with Prince, and if ever 
Dick was supremely happy it was when he 
turned Prince out on the pasture to rest and 
recuperate. 

Dick soon found that Prince was not only a 
good riding horse, but good and willing for 
anything required of him. With every day 
Dick grew more attached to him. But it has 
been said that “fortune is fickle,” and so it 
proved with Dick, for it was not long until Mr. 
Graham began to realize that he must part with 
most of his cattle and horses, as there were 
certain notes and mortgages falling due. 

Mr. Graham was not a man who had any 
special favorites among his live stock. To 
him they were simply property, to be sold or 
exchanged at any time, when the balance in 
dollars and cents was in his favor. It is true 
that the need of money just now was pressing, 
but from his view of the matter, it would have 


TO]\rS REFORM. 


37 


been Dick’s duty to have sold the horse at any 
time to one who would pay a premium on the 
original investment. Anything like feelings of 
affection for a horse were foreign to his nature, 
therefore he did not consider them in other 
people. 

One evening Dick stood at the corner of the 
big old-fashioned farm house, his hat tucked 
forward, and one leg of his trousers rolled up 
somewhat higher than the other, displaying a 
pair of small, rather clouded looking brown 
shanks. 

Though fourteen years old, he was scarcely 
larger than most boys of twelve. Dick was 
unhappy, and so occupied with his thoughts 
that he did not hear his mother calling. 

She called him the second time: “Dick, why 
do you not come in and go to bed?” 

“Yes, mother,” he answered, and hastily 
brushing away a tear with the back of his 
hand, went in. 

“Dick! Dick! Surely you are not going to 
bed without washing your feet! And for 
goodness sake, why are you going about with 
that sullen face again? Of all my children I 
know you do try my patience most.” 

Dick, in desperation stormed out, “I don’t 
care if I do!” 


38 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


His father, just coming in at the door, heard 
Dick, and taking him by the collar, led him 
out. 

“My young man,” said his father, “I will 
teach you how to talk to your mother.” 

His elder sister hearing the trouble from the 
hall came hurriedly in. 

“Oh, mother,” she exclaimed, “I do wish 
father would not punish Dick any more, for it 
don’t seem to do a bit of good.” 

“Yes, Julia, I know, but he has one of those 
sullen spells again. I don’t know what ever 
has come over the boy.” 

Mr. Graham came back into the room, bring- 
ing Dick with him, and ordered him to take 
himself off to bed at once. 

Wearily Dick climbed the stairs up to his 
own little room, but not to sleep. He went to 
the window and stood looking out into the 

To look at this tanned little farmer with plain 
features and shabby clothes, one would scarcely 
believe that his was a proud and keenly sensi- 
tive nature. 

Slowly his eyes wandered over the meadows 
and fields and to the lights of the little town not 
far distant. Then he sat down, resting his head 
moonlight. There was no trace of tears in his 
eyes. 


rOM^S REFORM. 


39 


on the window sill where he remained until far 
into the night. ♦ 

That evening when they had all just returned 
from a concert given on the streets of a neigh- 
boring town, and Dick’s mother and sisters were 
chatting pleasantly of the music, the small pur- 
chases they had made and the news of the town 
in general, he had disturbed the family by his 
unhappy face. 

And what was Dick thinking of? Not the 
music, not the purchases or the small gossip, but 
of one dappled bay horse which he had singled 
out from among all the rest. He could see 
or think of nothing else at the concert, except 
that handsome horse which was twisting its 
neck from side to side or pulling on the lines 
in an effort to get a little relief someway from 
its cruel checkrein that was drawing its head 
back in an unnatural position. How he longed 
to loosen the strap and give the poor, helpless 
creature a little comfort! 

Dick had kept watching the horse and crowd- 
ing so close to the carriage, that the driver, a 
youngster about his own age, with high, white 
collar and gaudy tie, noticed him and made 
some jesting remark to his companion about 
“hayseed.” At this, Dick shrank further into 
the shadows, and then slipped away. Prince, 


40 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


his very own Prince in other hands! Had his 
father not bought and presented this horse to 
him for his very own? Was it fair that his horse 
should be sold without his consent? 

So ran Dick’s thoughts back to the time when 
a stylishly-dressed stranger had come out from 
the town looking for a carriage horse. This 
purchaser had looked at all of Mr. Graham’s 
horses but could not be suited until he was 
shown Dick’s horse. 

The boy’s heart fairly stopped beating when 
his father and the man were looking at Prince. 
Surely his horse would not be sold. 

“Father, you know that is my horse,” said 
Dick, unable to keep silent longer. 

His father only muttered, “There are plenty 
of horses on my place. You may ride any you 
please, but I cannot afford to miss this sale.” 

Dick said no more, but for him no other 
horse could ever take the place of Prince. 

It seemed to this poor little fellow in his 
moonlit room, that all the pleasure had gone 
out of his life. It was bad enough to have to 
part with his horse to which he had become so 
attached; and now he had discovered that 
Prince was mistreated. 

A horse’s comfort is of secondary importance 
to the man who is cruel in his use of the 


TO AP S REFORM, 


41 


dieclcrein. This was Dick’s reasoning, and he 
was right; for boy though he was, he had more 
heart in him than most of men, and more 
regard for the feelings of dumb brutes. He 
thought of Prince in that dark stall, robbed of 
the freedom he had once enjoyed, and then he 
thought of himself, of the wrongs he had 
endured, and how he had borne a man’s share 
of the work since he was twelve years old. 

“And what have I got for it?” he complained, 
“Just one fifty cents. Father gave me fifty 
cents last Fourth of July!” 

Then he went to the box he called his trunk, 
and taking out his purse he carefully counted 
out the quarter, two dimes and a nickel, which 
he had been too saving to spend for fire- 
crackers. 

“This would keep me from starving a while,” 
he said to himself, “and I could find something 
to do in the city. I have heard of boys running 
on errands for business men, or taking care of 
offices for lawyers, and lots of things. Yes, I 
will do it. No one in the whole world cares 
for me anyway!” 

He put on his best clothes, put his purse in 
his pocket, opened the door very softly, went 
to the stairway and sliding gently down the 
rail lest his footsteps should be heard, he reach- 


42 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ed the outer door, and turning the key which had 
been left in the lock, was soon out in the night. 

As he hurried down the path, old Carlo, who 
was always his faithful friend, came bounding 
to him, surprised to see his young master at 
this time of night. For the first time Dick 
broke down, and putting his arms about the 
dog’s neck, sobbed as though his little heart 
would break. 

But time was precious to Dick, for he had no 
desire to return, so telling Carlo to go back, 
he passed out at the gate and started on his 
journey. He had not decided how he would 
try to get to the city, which was quite a 
distance, but as he hurried along the road he 
remembered having heard that tramps stole 
rides on the cars by someway getting under- 
neath on the trucks. He knew that by the time 
he could reach the town the early morning train 
to the city would be due. He would try it. 
The railroad company would be none the worse 
off, and he would reach his destination before 
his small amount of funds was exhausted. 

As he was nearing the town a thought sud- 
denly came to him that made him stand still 
for a moment. He knew right where Prince 
was, and wondered if he couldn’t steal up to 
the window of his barn and tell him goodbye. 


TOM'S REFORM. 


43 


H€ would! So going a little out of the way, 
he hurried on until sure enough, there was the 
very barn Prince was in. 

Creeping through a hedge, he went up to the 
window and in a low voice said, “Prince.” 
Almost immediately the head of a bay horse 
was thrust out of a window, and Dick was just 
putting his arms about the horse’s neck when 
he heard steps of someone coming swiftly 
toward him. 

It was the horse’s owner, and for a moment 
he and Dick stood staring at each other in the 
moonlight; then the man made a movement as 
if to grab him, but Dick being naturally nimble, 
slipped by him, and ran to the hedge through 
which he had come. 

The man followed, shouting, “Thieves! 
Thieves!” but Dick was soon out of sight and 
well on his way. 

When he reached the depot, almost breath- 
less, the train had arrived. Going to the side 
of one of the cars where he thought he was not 
likely to be observed, Dick was engaged in 
looking for a place to ride, when suddenly a 
strong hand took firm hold of his shoulder lift- 
ing him almost off his feet. 

“Look here, my young rascal! What are 
you up to? Trying to steal a ride are you? 


44 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Would like to get out of town pretty quick, eh? 
Well, I reckon not. There’s some laprobes, 
bridles, and things must be accounted for 
first.” 

Looking up and finding himself in the hands 
of an officer of the law, Dick was so dazed for 
a moment that he could make no reply, and 
soon after, his attempts at an explanation were 
lost in the noise of the crowd which had col- 
lected. One person noticing how pale and 
childish he looked, said it was a pity for one so 
young to be arrested as a thief, and several 
were explaining just how they had seen him in 
different parts of town, running with, or hiding 
laprobes, bridles and whips, more than any 
two boys of his size could have carried. 

With a crowd of men and boys following, 
poor Dick was hurried off to the lockup. The 
news soon spread, and many of the town 
people came to see the young rascal who no 
doubt was the tool of some notorious gang of 
housebreakers. 

But how was it at the old farm? After call- 
ing several times, Dick’s mother, feeling a 
little uneasy, went up to his room which she 
found empty. She noticed that his bed had not 
been touched that night, and after looking 


TO]\rS REFORM.^ 


45 


wildly about the room, she came rushing down 
stairs screaming. 

Father and the girls came running in with 
pale faces. “What is the matter, mother? 
What has happened?” they cried. 

For answer she only motioned toward Dick’s 
room. 

Dick was nowhere to be found! 

The girls, too, were alarmed by this time, 
and were crying and wringing their hands. 

When the father found out what the trouble 
was, he took the matter more calmly. “Well, 
if he hasn’t up and run away,” he said. “For 
goodness sake, girls, stop that fuss. He will 
soon be back again. I’ll not run after him, 
and it will teach him a lesson.” 

He had scarcely ceased speaking when he 
saw his neighbor Jones drive up to the gate 
and beckon to him. When Mr. Jones had 
delivered his message, it was Mr. Graham’s 
time to become alarmed. 

“No! My boy a thief? I cannot believe it!” 
he exclaimed. 

In nervous haste he rushed for his horse 
and carriage, and was soon in town. 

He was directed to the house of his friend, 
Mr. Cole, who had recognized Dick when in 
the hands of the officers, and he now had the 


46 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


boy safe at his house. He told Mr. Graham 
that the bridle and buggy robe had simply been 
misplaced; that the man who found a boy at 
the window of his barn at that early hour in 
the morning, could think of no other motive 
than that of dishonesty, and very naturally took 
him for a thief; but that he had talked to the 
boy and got it all out of him. 

Mr. Graham explained to Dick how he had 
been compelled to sell part of his horses and 
stock to save their home from debt, and also to 
buy feed for the rest. When Dick understood 
the matter, he repented and shamefacedly asked 
his father’s forgiveness; but it was long that he 
grieved for his pet horse, though he rejoiced to 
find that his home folks loved him far more 
than he had ever dreamed of. 

The man who had recently purchased Prince 
from Mr. Graham was the proprietor of a small 
grocery store, and as well as being used every 
pleasant Sunday as a carriage horse, he was 
employed the other six days of the week to draw 
a delivery wagon. 

He was often left to stand near the walk for 
hours at a time in the hot sun, with his fore feet 
in the gutter, suffering for water, or on busy 
days urged forward in a continual trot, seldom 
allowed to slacken into a walk, the whip being 


TOM^S REFORM. 


47 


used freely by the delivery boy — not that the boy 
was more hardhearted than most people or 
meant to be cruel, but was simply thoughtless. 
No one had ever reminded him that these dumb 
brutes about us have feeling just the same as 
we have; suffer pain and death just the same, 
and that it is our duty with the superior intelli- 
gence that God has given us, to deal as kindly 
and humanely with them as we can — never caus- 
ing pain where it can be avoided, and where it 
cannot be avoided that it should be done in 
a manner that will cause as little suffering as 
possible. 

* * * ♦ ♦ 

Prince was now failing fast. The only beauty 
left him was his black, naturally wavy mane. 

He was sent back to the city and sold for a 
few dollars to an old negro to draw a garbage 
wagon. The old darkey could furnish but 
scanty food and poor shelter for either himself 
or the horse. 

For a time Prince labored there, but any one 
could see by the tottering frame and drooping 
head that his sufferings would soon be over. 


48 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER VI. 

Darkness Before the Dawn — ‘ ‘ Father, Take Good 
Care of Prince” — A Long-Lost Wanderer’s Return, 
and a Recognition. 

It was a beautiful spring morning and the 
sun was shining brightly. The city had taken 
on a spring attire. The markets and every little 
grocery store were so full of fresh vegetables 
and flowers you could scarcely enter. Even 
the butcher shops were so crowded with flowers 
you could scarcely tell whether you were enter- 
ing a meat market or a flower garden, and 
there were little old German women following 
after you trying to sell you fresh, green lettuce 
if you did but hesitate for a moment. 

Passing along the street was a respectably 
dressed man who looked at the flowers and 
vegetables in an abstracted manner, not as a 
purchaser would, but as a man who was trying 
to think of something he had forgotten. 

As he walked down a side street he saw an 
aged negro sitting on an old garbage wagon 
trying to urge on a miserably poor, bony horse. 
He stormed and threatened, then fell to beating 
the animal most unmercifully. The man rushed 
at the negro, threatening to have him arrested 
for cruelty to animals, when the horse fell to 


Sobbing aloud, he murmured to himself, “Oh Prince, Prince! how came you here? 



\ 




ii^ “^W ;. JS-^ 

" ^ ■^^- . j’V ■ ■. 4 '‘' 


:,^ ^ : ' 


f M- '^'*1 

■ ■- ■ >• •■ 

* Kf-'l^ 


« 1 



-^’v; ?v^.- 


'm 


■ -'r ■■ j'iJ'iS 



i^.cTSf ; " 

•?■'• p* 


' jj I 
1 - 






TO APS REFORM. 


49 


the ground, stretching out its head as if dying. 

The man in sympathy for the animal went 
around *0 the horse’s head, saying, “Poor 
fellow.” The horse immediately raised its 
head, and looking at the man gave a loud neigft 
as if in recognition of someone. 

The man’s breath came quick and fast. His 
eyes seemed fastened on the black, wavy mane 
that fell back from the dying horse’s head. 
Again the horse raised its head and looking up 
gave another loud neigh of recognition. 

The man now fell on his knees, feeling hastily 
for the wart that was and always had been on 
the neck among the dark mane. 

Sobbing aloud, he murmured to himself, 
regardless of the crowd that was collecting 
about him, “Oh, Prince, Prince! how came you 
here? Where, oh tell me where are my aged 
father and mother?” 

The cloud had gone from his brain. The 
past was no longer a sealed book to him. 
Again he remembered the old farm home, the 
shady lane with its drooping walnut trees on 
either side leading to the house; the little porch 
with honeysuckle twining o’er, so red that 
morning when he said his last goodbye. 

He could see that mother leaning on the arm 
of that aged father for support, so full she 


50 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


dared not trust her voice to speak. And he 
remembered as he opened the gate for the last 
time, how he waved his hat in mock cheer and 
called back, “Father, take good care of Prince,” 
then turned away almost choking as he went. 

All this now rushed into Charlie Willard’s 
mind where for so long the past had been but 
a blank. 

But there was one thing he did not remem- 
ber, and that was a sultry night in August 
when he, a young soldier deranged in both 
body and mind, had arisen from his bed in a 
hospital and finding some rejected clothing had 
put it on, and wandered out into the moonlight. 
On and on he went, across the fields and over 
the meadows, until at last from exhaustion he 
sank to the ground where he lay until far into 
the next day. 

Awakening with mind a little more clear 
he went to a farm house. The farmer, seeing 
a sick man at his gate, kindly proffered food 
and shelter. But he could not tarry long; day 
after day, and week after week he wandered, 
stopping but a short time with anyone. After 
a while the body began to gain strength and 
the wanderer began to meditate. 

One morning when sitting on a log out in an 
old field, he suddenly sprang to his feet exclaim- 


TODTS REFORM. 


51 


ing aloud: “My God! why am I here, and 
alone? Who am I? Where did I come from? 
Where am I going?” 

He clasped his hands to his head and looked 
about him. Seeing a man in the distance plow- 
ing, he said to himself, “ I’ll go speak to him 
and see what he says.” Then looking down at 
his clothes he added, “I’m ragged, shamefully 
ragged and hungry.” 

Slowly he picked his way among some brush 
and fallen trees until he came to a path that led 
into a road leading up to the field where an old 
gray-haired farmer was plowing. 

Advancing, he said, “Good morning.” 

The farmer looked up quickly, not being 
aware that anyone was near, and said: 

“Good morning, sir; I calculate you’re 
somthing of a stranger in these parts?” 

The stranger replied that he was and would 
like to work if he knew of anyone needing help. 

“Work! my goodness, man,” exclaimed the 
farmer. “There’s no scarcity o’ work. Purty 
nigh ev’rybody’s gone to the war; my three 
sons has gone and me a tryiii’ to keep the 
work a goin’ when I’m mighty nigh dead in my 
tracks.” 

“War,” mused the stranger, “I’ve heard 
of war.” 


52 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“See here, man, what can you do?’^ 

The stranger reflected a moment, then 
replied, 

“I can plow.” 

“Enough,” said the farmer; “let me see how 
you make it.” 

The farmer was well pleased to find a man 
who could finish up the fall plowing. 

One morning the farmer remarked: 

“Stranger, looks like you’ve been here long 
enough fer a person to know yer name.” 

The stranger answered, “Fred Johnson,” 
taking the first name that came into his mind. 

“Queer fellow that,” thought the farmer. 
“Never says a thing about himself, ’less he’s 
asked.” 

And so it was. The stranger never spoke of 
himself, seeming to prefer listening to others 
talk. Working awhile in the country or town, 
he would push on, until at last he became so 
well in body and mind that there was nothing 
noticeably different about him from others. 
He passed for a genial, good natured person 
with average education. No one knew of the 
nights he lay awake trying again and again to 
solve that same old problem, “Who am I? 
Others speak of their fathers, their mothers, 
their youth, their boyhood days; where were 


TO^rS REFORM. 


S3 


mine spent? Did I ever have any? Were I 
ever a boy?” So guarded was he, that no one 
guessed the secret within — at times joking and 
laughing as others do, but ever and always 
with the longing to wander on. 

Coming to the city where we now find him, 
he had secured employment in a livery stable 
and was returning to his place of business, 
when what should remove that cloud which 
had hung over his troubled life for ten long 
years? Only a horse. 

Strange sight that, a respectable looking man 
on his knees in the middle of the street weep- 
ing over a dying horse — and the May sun shin- 
ing so brightly; not the hot sun of an August 
day, but the bright, glad sunshine of May 
that makes the birds sing and the flowers 
bloom. 


54 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER VII. 

The End of a Long Journey— Charlie Willard Finds 
His Aged Parents After Years of Separation— 
A Happy Reunion. 

Three days later the sun was still shining 
over the city, over the fields, over the meadows, 
over the hills and over the town where stands 
a little house of two rooms, in which an aged 
couple were moving about and with trembling 
hands picking up the few clothes and little keep- 
sakes, their only possessions, and tying them 
up in small bundles, while a tall, broad- 
shouldered man standing in the door with a 
whip in his hand was saying: 

“I’ve brung my wagon to take you over and 
there ain’t no use to make any more fuss about 
it. You a livin’ here and a keepin’ you up this 
way costs the county more. It’s all foolish- 
ness. You’ll be given enough to eat and wear 
and be taken good care of at the county house. 
What more can you ask? 

A well dressed man with valise in hand had 
passed unnoticed through the gate and had 
heard all. He rushed into the room and facing 
the man with the whip he said in a command- 
ing tone, “Sir, tumble into that wagon quick 
and begone. I’ll take the responsibility of look- 


TOM^S REFORM. 


55 


ing after these old people.” Then turning to 
the little old woman, gazing at him in astonish- 
ment, he held out his arms, saying, “Mother!” 

For an instant she hesitated; then with a low 
cry she fell half fainting on her son’s arm. 
Tenderly he drew her to his breast, then reach- 
ing the other arm to his father, he drew the two 
old and wrinkled faces together and kissed them 
again and again. 

* ♦ ♦ ♦ * ^ 

A year has passed since then, and the sun is 
shining just as brightly on another May day. 
The two-roomed house has a bright, new little 
kitchen, from which comes a savory odor as of 
frying ham and eggs. A little old lady is 
placing on the table three plates, three cups 
and three saucers, while she softly sings, 

“Have we trials and temptations; 

Is there trouble anywhere? 

We should never be discouraged— 

Take it to the Lord in prayer.” 

In a rustic chair on a new front porch sits a 
little old man, who, pushing the spectacles up 
on his forehead, lays aside the evening paper as 
he sees his son, Charles, with light step and 
cheerful face, returning from his day’s labor, 
open the gate. 


56 ONLY A HORSE; OR, 

“What is it, Charlie,” asked the father, 
hurriedly going to meet him, for he saw there 
was something more than common in his son’s 
face. 

“Father, where is mother? Tell her I have 
some glad news.” 

The mother came quickly in, having from 
the kitchen heard her son call. 

“Mother,” said he, taking her two hands in 
his own, “what would you say if I should tell 
you that our Prince is alive and well, and that 
you will soon see him again?” 

“No, no, not possible, Charlie! You surely 
told us you left him dead or dying on the 
street.” 

“And so I thought, mother. When my 
mind turned to you and father I rushed off, 
forgetting the horse. But there was a friend 
that I had made while employed at the livery 
stable, who was a veterinary surgeon and who 
often came to the stable to examine horses and 
administer to their needs. He happened to be 
among the crowd that had collected about. 
When I left he took possession of Prince, giving 
the colored man a small sum, which he gladly 
accepted, and after working with the horse 
where he lay awhile, he revived him enough to 
be removed to his own stable. At last he got 


TOJirS REFORM, 


57 


him on his feet and on the high road to re- 
covery. Feeling sure I had gone to seek my 
people, and not knowing where that was, he 
continued to keep Prince until by chance, having 
some business in this town, he discovered my 
whereabouts. He immediately had Prince 
shipped, and there he is now, coming in at the 
gate!” 

The mother gave a little scream of delight, 
and they all rushed out on the front porch as 
Dick Graham, the veterinary surgeon, led 
Prince up. He walked a little slow, and per- 
haps did not carry his head quite so high, but 
he was the same Prince. And when Charlie 
put his arms around the horse’s neck and he 
gave a low whinny and rubbed his head against 
the breast of Charlie’s coat, they all laughed 
and cried at the same time while they took 
turns at caressing the horse. 

When Prince had begun to regain his health 
under Dick Graham’s treatment, and some of 
his old beauty to return, Dick began to feel that 
he had known this horse before. One morning 
when combing out the black, wavy mane, he 
discovered the same wart or peculiar excres- 
cence among the long hair. It flashed over 
him in a moment, that this must be the very 
same horse his father had bought for him when 


58 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


a boy. That he might be certain of the truth, 
Dick had again sought the old darky, and made 
inquiries as to whom he had bought the horse 
of. From that he traced the owners of Prince 
back to himself. 

Dick related his story to Charlie Willard and 
his parents, and that night the sun never set 
over a happier little crowd. 


PART TWO. 


CHAPTER I. 

Old Pete’s Wearisome Wait for His Dissipated Young 
Master— Tom’s Trusty Old Horse Saves Him from 
being Robbed by Footpads. 

One sultry day in July Old Pete stood hitched 
to an old fashioned spring wagon, tied to a post, 
his fore feet in the gutter in front of a small 
grocery store, looking longingly for his master, 
as he had been obliged to do many times. 

Early in the morning a small amount of 
shade was there, but that had long since passed 
by, and the sun came down relentlessly on his 
back, while the flies attacked him unmercifully. 
Vainly he jerked his little stump of a tail, for 
man’s hands had long since removed that one 
weapon of defense nature had given him — and 
the flies remained undisturbed. 

To look at this now caricature of a horse, you 
would scarcely believe that he had once been 
a handsome chestnut-sorrel, the favorite riding 
horse, and pride and delight of a fair young 
maid. 

As a happy lot of chatting young misses hap- 

59 


60 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


pened to pass on the walk by him, one, a slen- 
der, handsome girl with her light golden hair 
gracefully drawn back from her face with a knot 
of pale blue ribbon, came very near him. Old 
Pete took a step toward her, raising his big, 
bony head on his little string of a neck, and 
neighed with delight. 

The young miss looked up in a startled man- 
ner, then with somewhat of an expression of 
disgust on her face, drew her skirts closely 
about her and hurried on. If she had stopped 
to think, perhaps she would have given him a 
look of pity; but she, like many of us, was not 
fond of unpleasant sights, and quickly put it off 
her mind. 

Old Pete, with a look of disappointment, drop- 
ped his head and again jerked his little stump 
of a tail, stamped his feet uneasily, and tried to 
shake off the flies. 

Did some remembrance of a golden-haired 
maid of long ago pass through his poor clouded 
brain? Did he remember how she used to 
caressingly pat his neck, and with her fair 
young hands take up his forelock and push it 
from his eyes? 

One after another the horses would come and 
go at the long row of hitching posts, until at 
last they were all gone, and only he was left — 


TOJirS REFORM. 


61 


alone, so thirsty and hungry. The sun had 
gone down and the moon was high. Long- 
ingly, wistfully, he would once in a while raise 
his head and look in the direction his master 
had disappeared. 

At last there appeared around the corner a 
young country man, with rather uncertain step. 
His clothes were worn loosely although care- 
fully brushed, and there was some attempt at 
white collar and a black tie. But for a certain 
dissipated look, he would have had a hand- 
some face. His hat, which tried to be respect- 
able, but was much worn, was pulled low over 
a pair of what would have been very fine eyes 
but for the marks of dissipation about them. 

As he advanced toward him. Old Pete, so 
joyful that his master had at last come, kept 
throwing his head up and down and whinnying. 

The young man, Tom Wilford, was annoyed 
at the horse; in fact, annoyed and out of humor 
with himself and everything in general. 

He hadn’t intended to do as he had done. 
He had come to town early in the morning, 
thinking to attend to his business and go home. 
He promised his mother that morning that he 
would not go about a saloon, or any place 
where liquor was to be found, but would be at 
home before noon. He had brought a few hogs 


62 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


in to market the day before, and this morning 
had come in to collect the money due him. 

In the postoffice he had met an old acquaint- 
ance whom he had not seen for a long time. 
This friend invited him to have a glass with 
him “for friendship’s sake,” and it was the same 
old story. He took one glass, then another, 
then got to playing cards and did not start for 
home until night had driven him. 

As he approached, Old Pete was so glad to 
see him that he tried to take a step to meet 
him. Tom, seeing a stake lying by the walk, 
seized it up and struck the poor beast in the 
face. The miserable animal drew his head on 
one side with the pain and for a few moments 
forgot how hungry and thirsty he was. 

When his master was at last ready to start, 
the first thing he did before he let the horse 
know that the time had come to go, was to 
give him a cruel cut with the whip, and then 
say “Get up!” 

And right here I must say, that was no more 
than most of us do. I have seen with my own 
eyes many an otherwise kind lady take up the 
whip and strike first, then perhaps say “Get 
up!” when the poor animal only needed to 
know it was time to start. Why do we do this 
way? Simply because we do not think, and 


TOM^S REFORM. 


63 


no one has reminded us that the horse is not a 
machine we are dealing with, but live flesh and 
blood. 

Old Pete tried to start off briskly, but very 
soon he was down from a jog trot to a walk. 
Then Tom would again give him a few cuts 
with the whip. The poor old horse was so stiff 
from standing so long he could scarcely get up 
a good trot, but he would again make the effort, 
then again slacken, and the whip would be 
applied until at last it would scarcely take any 
effort. 

It seemed as if the old horse could not more 
than walk, and must take the beating. 

After a time the driver began to get sleepy, 
and ceased beating, while he let the lines fall. 
Slowly the horse wended his way toward his 
home until they were several miles on the 
country road. The driver set listlessly on the 
high seat of the old spring wagon. As they 
neared a bridge that crossed a small creek, 
Old Pete began to prick up his ears, carry his 
head a little higher and to step more briskly, 
looking about him as if he scented something 
wrong. Had the driver been himself he would 
have noticed the changed manner of his horse. 
But the driver noticed nothing. 

Slowly Old Pete approached the bridge, look- 


64 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ing cautiously around. When he was about mid- 
dle way of the bridge, suddenly two men sprang 
from their hiding place. One tried to grasp the 
bridle, while the other made a rush for the wag- 
on calling for Tom Wilford to hold up his hands. 
But the old horse gave a desperate plunge, 
completely evading them and dashed from the 
bridge with all the strength there was in him. 

The would-be robbers could do nothing as 
they were afoot, and somewhat unsteady them- 
selves. They both fired their revolvers after 
the wagon, one bullet passing through the dash- 
board, but doing no further damage. They had 
seen Tom collect the money for his hogs and 
were lying in wait for him. 

When safely out of reach. Old Pete recovered 
from his fright, but his strength was so nearly 
exhausted he could scarcely walk. Had the 
robbers known this, they might yet have over- 
taken the horse and wagon. 

At a certain place there was a road leaving 
the main highway, which wound about through a 
strip of wood leading up to the Wilford home. 
It was a road with many stumps in it and dan- 
gerous places where careful driving was neces- 
sary, but Old Pete picked his way slowly, as he 
had been accustomed, never striking a stump 
until he arrived safely at the Wilford gate. 
Tom had long ago jolted off of the high seat 
and lay on his back in the bottom of the wagon, 
asleep. He little knew of the service Old Pete 
had rendered him that night. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


65 


CHAPTER II. 

Mrs. Wilford and Daughter Cherry Anxiously Await 
the Home-coming of Tom — He Arrives Home in 
an Intoxicated Condition — Grief and Misery in the 
Household. 

In an old-fashioned parlor, with low ceilings, 
in a much worn rocking chair, sat Mrs. Wilford, 
her face very pale, her hands clasped tightly 
together in her lap. At her feet on a foot stool 
sat her only daughter. Cherry, a girl with an 
uncommonly sweet face of the blonde type. 
She had been christened Mary, but in infancy 
and childhood she was such a cheerful, laugh- 
ing little thing, that her father had always 
called her “Cherry;” and since that name had 
been adopted by the rest of the family, she 
really know no other. Cherry was at this time 
perhaps seventeen or eighteen years old and 
of very slender and delicate build. 

The girl clasped her mother’s hands in her 
own and murmured, “Mother, don’t grieve so. 
Surely Tom will come soon.” 

The mother’s lips moved but she made no 
reply. 

“Mother, take just a little taste of tea,” she 
urged, going and taking up a teacup from the 
table where the supper stood untasted. 


66 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“Oh, my child, I cannot!” said her mother, 
rising: and walking hastily up and down the 
room a few times. “Cherry, look again and 
try if you can see or hear anything of him,” 
she said, sinking back in her chair. 

Cherry went out on the little porch and 
listened, and looked down the lane that led to 
the gate. For a few moments she sank down 
on a little settee on the porch, drawing one 
hand across her troubled and aching brow. 
Old Jacko, the companion and friend of her 
childhood, slipped up to her side and put one 
big, grizzly paw in her lap. Cherry took it in 
her hand and pressed it to her cheek while the 
tears she had been keeping back flowed freely 
over it. Then she put her arms about the big 
mastiff’s neck and whispered, “No, no, Jacko, 
we mustn’t cry. Mamma must not know how 
badly we feel. We must be brave and strong 
for poor, dear mamma’s sake.” 

Often when alone, she would tell Jacko all 
her troubles, and he would look wise and 
solemn as if he understood. Sometimes he 
would slip his great, big old paw up and lay it 
in her lap, then again he would lay his big 
rough head solemnly against her. If she was 
happy and glad he would be full of happy* 
enthusiasm, and he would look up into her face 


TOM^S REFORM, 


67 


and laugh just as plainly as you or I could do. 

Hastily rising to her feet, she took her hand- 
kerchief from her pocket and softly wiped her 
eyes, then going back into the room where her 
mother was, she again sat down on the stool at 
her mother’s feet. 

“Cherry, my child, I cannot stand this!” 
“Let us walk down to the gate again.” This 
they had done at least a half dozen times that 
afternoon and night. It was a hundred yards 
or more from the house, with oak and walnut 
trees on either side of the road leading to it. 

“Yes, mamma,” said Cherry. “Here, put this 
light shawl over your head. I know you will 
be all tired out and sick.” 

“But what am I to do, child?” said her 
mother. “How am I to stand this? If Tom 
don’t come soon we will be obliged to go and 
arouse the neighbors. He may be robbed or 
murdered, or worse — he may be drinking again! 
Oh, yes, I see it all; he is going as his father 
went. Oh, I can see again that cold, cold face 
in the snow!” Feeling her daughter, who was 
clinging to her, tremble, she stopped short. 
Then putting her arms about her, she said in a 
more calm voice, “My darling, your mother is 
selfish to forget you.” 


68 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“No, mamma, you are not, but please let us 
not talk about papa tonight. I feel sure it will 
all come out right. Some business has detained 
him.” 

“What business could detain him until this 
time of night?” the mother replied. 

Slowly they started down the steps and out 
into the moonlight, old Jacko following closely. 

The large trees cast dark shadows across 
their path. To these two lone women the still- 
ness of the night seemed oppressive in that 
gloomy lane. It seemed as if their own foot- 
steps made noise as they strained theirs ears 
to catch the sound of approaching wheels. 

God only knows; save those who have unfortu- 
nately been placed in such position, how lonely 
is the life of a woman in the country home 
where husband, father or son fails to be the de- 
pendence or protection to her which He has 
intended should be the duty and responsibility 
of man. 

A hare springing suddenly from a clump of 
grass by the roadside, very near, caused them 
to involuntarily grasp one another’s hands. 
Then seeing it go bounding off and disappear in 
the shadows, they started on. Stopping at 
times to listen, they could hear nothing but the 
distant barking of dogs, or once in a while the 


TOM^S REFORM. 


69 


lonesome sound of the hoot owl in the woods. 
When nearing the old gate, they heard a most 
frightful sounding shriek that came from some- 
where in the woods, which resembled very 
much the voice of a woman in distress. 

The mother grasped her daughter by the arm, 
whispering, “What is that. Cherry?” 

Cherry for an instant held her breath, while 
a cold shiver crept down her back, then ex- 
claimed, “Oh, mamma, what a goose I was to be 
so frightened, when I know so well it is only a 
harmless little screech owl. Don’t you know, 
mamma?” 

“Yes, dear,” replied her mother, “but it had 
such a dreadful sound and coming at such a time 
as this.” 

“Mamma,” said Cherry, “let us try and not be 
so nervous. Here is dear old Jacko, he wouldn’t 
leave us for anything, or allow anyone to come 
near us.” 

“Yes, my child, I don’t know what we would 
do without him. But oh, your mother is so 
uneasy about her boy! Oh, what shall we do? 
We must go across the field to the nearest 
neighbors aud arouse them. 

“Mother, if you were only at the house, Jacko 
and I would go,” said Cherry. “You are so 
weak and worn out with the worry, that I’m 


70 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


afraid you could not hold out to walk so far.” 

“My child, I cannot sit and wait; I must be 
up and doing something, for some harm has 
come to my boy, I know. It’s past twelve 
o’clock — I heard the cock crow some time ago.” 

Hand in hand they started outside the big 
gate, old Jacko following solemnly, but eagerly 
watchful, never leaving them for a moment. 

“Hark! look; there is some dark object 
in the road; yes, mamma, it is Old Pete,” said 
Cherry, running a few steps in advance of her 
mother. “But oh. Cherry, tell me quick, is 
Tom, my boy, there?” said her mother, follow- 
ing as fast as she could. 

Cherry made no reply, for as Old Pete and 
the wagon advanced and came more into view, 
there was no one to be seen — the seat was 
empty. 

The mother screamed and sank to the 
ground. Cherry ran up to the wagon and looked 
in. There on the floor of the vehicle, lying on 
his back, was the figure of Tom. Cherry gave 
a little scream, then looking back saw her 
mother on the ground. She ran back to her 
mother, murmuring to herself, “What shall I 
do — what shall I do?” 

She sank on her knees by her mother, raising 
her head up tenderly in her arms. Again and 


TOJirS REFORM. 


71 


again she repeated, “Oh, mother, Tom is there; 
Tom is there!” 

At last Mrs. Wilford opened her eyes and 
started up, but could only rise after falling back 
the second time. 

“Mother, you stay here; I must go to Tom,” 
said the girl as she hurried back to the wagon. 

The old horse had stopped at the gate. 
Cherry climbed up into the wagon, quickly 
shoving the seat back out of the way. Placing 
her hands on Tom’s forehead, and face, she felt 
that they were warm. The odor on his breath 
soon gave her to understand. She gently 
shook him, calling his name. But she had to 
shake him harder and yet harder before she 
could get an answer from him. By that time 
the mother had gotten into the wagon and the 
two raised him up into a sitting position, when 
he began to help himself. He got out of the 
wagon, the two women steadying him, all the 
while trying in a rambling sort of way to ex- 
plain how it all came about. 

The mother and sister could understand but 
a small portion of what he said, and only 
silently wept as they helped him to the house. 
They got him to his bed where he lay down 
without undressing. The mother sat down 
beside that bed, sending her daughter away, 
and there she remained, keeping silent vigil by 
his bedside until he awoke from his stupor the 
next morning. 


72 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER III. 

The Blighted Home — Tom Awakens from His Drunken 
Stupor— His Deep Remorse. 

Cherry, having left Tom in the care of her 
mother, had hurried down the long, lonesome 
lane. No thought of fear entered her mind 
now. She felt that a great dark cloud was 
hanging over them. She wondered if life 
would always be that way. A great sob shook 
her slight frame. She stopped a moment and 
leaned against a large tree that grew by the 
path, where in childhood she had spent many 
happy hours. Just then old Jacko, who had 
been silently following her, sat upright beside 
her and began slowly putting up his big paw 
with a mournful, sad expression in his face. 
Sympathy he undoubtedly felt for his young 
mistress; in his poor, dumb way he seemed to 
realize that she was in some deep trouble. 
The apparent sympathy shown by this dumb 
brute seemed to encourage her; then remember- 
ing Old Pete, she hastened on down the lane to 
the gate. 

There she saw Old Pete standing just as they 
had left him. As she approached he gave 
a low whinny, raising his poor old head and 
looking at her so gladly and wistfully. The 


TOATS REFORM, 


73 


moment she drew near him she exclaimed aloud, 
“Why, what has happened to Old Pete? What 
a great deep gash on his forehead, and he is 
all covered with perspiration that has dried on 
him! What can it mean!” 

Ah, could Old Pete but have told her all! 

Cherry led Pete inside the gate, then got into 
the wagon. The old horse slowly walked up 
the lane to the far side of the house where 
there was a well with an old-fashioned sweep. 
This is a long pole used to raise and lower a 
bucket by being balanced in the middle with a 
weight on the opposite end. By this means 
Cherry drew water and poured into the trough, 
which was a large log with the center hewn out. 
Seeing how very thirsty he was, how ravenous- 
ly he drank, as if almost famished, she would 
not allow him to drink as much as he desired, 
but led him down to the old barn which was 
not far off, and taking him from the wagon, 
turned him into his stall in the stable. She 
gave him some feed and hay, then got some 
water and bathed the poor old forehead, rubbing 
some liniment on the wound from a bottle 
kept in the stable. 

When Cherry felt she had done all in her 
power for the poor horse, she returned to the 
house and going to her brother’s room tapped 


74 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


lightly at the door. Her mother opened the 
door and gently but firmly urged her to go to 
her bed, saying that it would soon be morning 
and she must try to get some rest, as she knew 
the household duties would mostly devolve on 
her. Then her mother closing the door and 
locking it, there was nothing for Cherry to do 
but go to her own room. 

It was very little Cherry slept; the anxiety 
about her mother was too great. She knew, 
too, that Tom was not strong and feared the 
evil effects of such a spell as this on his frail 
constitution. 

Tom had never before indulged to such an 
extent as at the present time, although Cherry 
had often detected the trace of liquor on his 
breath. He had been a kind brother to her and 
she loved him dearly. It was only since he 
was nearing manhood that he had gotten into 
the wrong kind of company and was gradually 
drifting into those dreadful habits that are the 
wreck and ruin of so many of our young men. 

Liquor was to Tom, as it is to so many, a 
certain and sure poison and had already under- 
minded his not over-robust constitution. 

The father had died in their childhood and 
had left them the farm with a heavy mortgage 
on it. The mother had managed to keep down 


TOM^S REFORM. 


75 


the interest until they were old enough to help. 
Now together they were struggling very hard 
to relieve the old home of the debt that had so 
long hung over them. 

With anguish of heart Cherry lay her throb- 
bing head down on her pillow — but only for a 
few minutes. She felt that she could not 
endure inactivity and that more and more re- 
sponsibility would yet rest with herself and 
that she must prepare herself as near as lay in 
her power for whatever fate might be hers. 

Hastily re-dressing and going to the corner of 
her room where there were some shelves well 
ladened with school books, Cherry took one 
down and seated herself by the lamp to study. 

These books were always her refuge in time 
of trouble. Cherry had not been able to attend 
school very regularly. So much of the cares 
and duties of the house and even management 
of the farm had rested on her young shoulders 
— her mother not being a very strong woman 
and whose spirit had almost been crushed under 
the heavy trials and disappointments of her 
life. 

When engaged in the different occupations 
of the day, such as washing dishes, arranging 
the rooms or even working in the kitchen 
garden, you would always see, not far from 


76 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Cherry, a school book of some kind lying in a 
convenient place that she would occasionally 
glance at. Tonight it was a book of history 
that she had taken up, feeling that this of all 
subjects would come nearer resting her mind. 

She had been studying perhaps an hour when 
she suddenly became aware that the pain in her 
head was becoming intense, and that she must 
lay down her book. Glancing up at the small 
clock on one of the shelves among her books 
she saw that it was nearing two o’clock. Con- 
cluding she would try and get some rest, she 
put away the book and again sought her bed. 
This time it was not long until she was sleep- 
ing soundly. 

At about half-past four Cherry, half awaken- 
ing, gently reached one hand over to her' 
mother’s place in the bed beside her, as she was 
wont to do when waking, having as yet never 
known separation from her mother. Finding 
the place vacant, the awful experiences of the 
evening before rushed in on her young brain. 
She sprang from her bed, saying to herself, 
“Oh, I have been sleeping too soundly. Oh, 
my mother! My poor erring brother!” 

She stepped to the window and looked out. 
It was a clear, bright morning. The birds 
were singing rapturously. The sweet odor 


TOM^S REFORM. 


77 


from her little flower garden under the window 
greeted her nostrils. The sun was just rising 
— so glorious, so beautiful; such magnificent 
blending or red and gold. For a moment 
Cherry gazed spellbound. Then clasping her 
hands together she exclaimed, “Oh, there must 
be a God!” and sinking to her knees beside 
the little window she offered up a heartfelt 
prayer. Then arising she made a hasty toilet 
and hurried from her room along the hall to 
her brother’s room. Then she stood for an 
instant undecided as to what she ought to do. 
She coughed slightly, hoping her mother would 
open the door. Receiving no answer and not 
wishing to rap on the door, she went on down 
the stairs to the kitchen. Then she noticed 
the milk pails were gone from their accustomed 
places on the shelf. She hurried out to the lot 
where the milch cows are kept. Sure enough, 
there was her mother, already milking. 

“So early, mother?” said Cherry: “I had 
thought to be the first.” 

“Yes, Cherry, I’ve so longed for morning to 
come. And you know the cattle flies are so bad 
when the cool of the morning is off,” 

The mother had done with the first cow. 
She then turned two more into the lot. Cherry 
took the other pail from where her mother had 


78 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


hung it on a post, and they both worked, ex- 
changing very few words until they were through 
and their buckets filled. 

They then turned the cows out of the small 
milking lot into the pasture and taking up their 
buckets started to the house. 

“Mother,” said Cherry as they walked side 
by side, “I have dreaded asking you of Tom.” 

“He had a very bad night,” said her mother, 
“and this morning he is coughing very hard and 
has a severe pain in his head. I so fear serious 
consequences will result from this terrible 
strain on his health. The cough fills me with 
dread. I shall not reprove or lecture him; 
lecturing does little or no good. But, Cherry, 
I have been thinking, thinking all night. You 
know. Cherry, I have told you and your brother 
very little of your father’s death. You were 
too young to remember much, and I had 
thought to spare you as much as possible. But 
I have made up my mind that it would be best 
for Tom to know all. Cherry, I’m going to 
make one desperate effort to reform him, and 
if that fails I have no more hope.” 

They had now arrived at the kitchen and 
placed their buckets of milk on the table, when 
the mother dropped into a chair, so unnerved 
as she contemplated her plan for saving her 


TOM'S REFORM, 


79 


boy that she was shaking like one with a chill. 

Cherry,” she said, in a tremulous voice, 
“have you not noticed that I have been writing 
a great deal of late?” 

“Yes, mother, I have,” replied Cherry. 

“Well, I have been writing my life and the 
life and death of your father. I have com- 
pleted my story. Cherry, and as a last resort, 
in hopes of saving our Tom, I am going to 
give it to him to read.” 

“Dear mother, you have been thinking too 
much,” said Cherry. “While I get breakfast 
ready you go to your room and rest a bit,” she 
continued, placing her arms about her mother’s 
neck. 

“No, dearest, I must go to Tom’s room and 
see how he is,” replied Mrs. Wilford as she 
turned away and went on up the stairs, while 
Cherry went on preparing breakfast. 

Mrs. Wilford found the door of Tom’s room 
standing open but Tom was nowhere to be 
seen. He had come down and gone out to 
attend to the horses and do the chores about 
the barn. He had evidently endeavored to 
avoid his mother and sister, as he dreaded fac- 
ing them. He did not return for breakfast 
until Cherry had rung the bell several times. 
When he did return it was in a shamefaced 
manner, scarcely daring to raise his eyes. 


80 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Cherry bhstled about, chatting cheerfully of 
the beautiful morning and of the rapid growth 
the buds were making in her chrysanthemum 
bed. 

The kitchen was a large, square room, with 
wainscoting and all woodwork of dark blue. 
They cooked and dined in the same room, as 
did most of the farm people at that time. The 
table was placed in the further corner of the 
room from the stove, where there were both a 
door and a window, so there was not much in- 
convenience from the heat of the stove. Near 
the stove sat Cherry’s large tortoise-shell pussy, 
blinking her eyes sleepily, but keeping careful 
notice of all the preparations and advancement 
of the breakfast. 

Mrs. Wilford took her place at the head of 
the table stiff and pale. As was her custom 
she offered grace, after which she poured the 
coffee, while Cherry brought to the table a plate 
of hot biscuits. Cherry pretended not to notice 
that Tom dropped his fork as he turned his plate 
over or that he came near spilling his coffee as 
his mother passed it to him. 

Cherry playfully shook her finger at her pet 
cat, saying, “Oh, you naughty pussy, to be 
washing your face toward the east when it is 
haying time. No, no, pussy, let us get the 
hay taken care of before the rain comes.” 


TOAPS REFORM. 


81 


There was very little food taken by any one 
at the table. At last Tom laid down his knife 
and fork and burst into tears. “Mother,” he 
sobbed, “do scold me. Say I’m a worthless, 
unworthy son. Then I could get angry and 
talk back. Oh do say something!” 

“My son,” replied his mother, mingling her 
tears with his, “you will never receive unkind 
treatment from your sister or me; we will only 
hope and pray for you.” 

“How can I promise you and sister anything,” 
said he; “I have made promises only to break 
them.” 

“But, brother,” said Cherry, “just think, it 
has been a long while since you have had one 
of these spells; they are getting farther between, 
don’t you see, dear brother? We will begin all 
over again,” said she, kissing her brother on 
the forehead. 

Tom arose and slowly putting on his hat went 
out to the barn. 

Cherry and her mother went about their work 
with heavy hearts. They had tried to be brave 
and hopeful before Tom, though they knew as 
he himself had said, that he had often promised 
before, and that he always suffered great 
remorse afterward. 


82 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Mrs. Wilford glanced out in passing the 
window, and saw Tom coming to the well, 
which was near the house, leading Old Pete 
and another horse to the trough. She took her 
sunbonnet from a hook by the door and went 
out to meet him. 

“Tom,” said his mother, “you are not able 
to go out to the field to work today, are you?” 

“No, mother, I have hired a man to work in 
my place; I am feeling far from well,” he 
replied. 

“Tom,” said his mother, you must come to 
the house and rest today.” 

“I will after a bit, when I get a few more of 
the chores done,” returned Tom. 

“Tom, I have something to tell you,” said 
his mother. “You know I have said very little 
to you of your father’s life and death.” 

“Yes, mother,” replied Tom. 

“Well, I have written a story of my life and 
of your father’s life and death, and I would 
like very much that you should read it.” 

“I certainly will, mother, if you give it to me 
to read. I have often felt that I would like to 
know more of my father.” 

“Well, Tom, when you come to the house 
you will find the roll of paper lying on the book 
case in the sitting room. You can read it as 


TOM'S REFORM, 


83 


you feel like it, just so you return it to me 
when you are done with it. 

“Tom!” suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, as 
her eyes happened to rest on Old Pete’s face 
when he raised his head from the trough where 
he had been drinking, “what is the matter with 
poor Old Pete’s face? Just see what a large 
cut there is on his forehead.” 

Tom’s face reddened as he stammered out 
evasively: “Old Pete is always getting hurt 
someway. I could not account for all his ills. 
I tell you, mother, we ought to get rid of an 
.old horse like him; it don’t pay to keep such an 
old corncrib around. I think we had better 
just take him out, turn him loose and drive him 
away. There is no pay in him any more.” 

“Oh, Tom, how can you think of such a 
thing? And of Old Pete, too? Why, Tom, 
that would be a cruel, wicked way to treat any 
horse. But Old Pete — Tom, you don’t know 
what he is and has been to me. He was young 
and happy when I was young and happy; he 
has suffered — so have I.” 

“Nonsense, mother, you are not old,” said 
Tom; “you would not be old if you would not 
think yourself so. But Pete must be thirty. 
That is very old for a horse.” 

“Tom, Old Pete has paid his way long ago, 


84 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


and he shall have a home as long as he and 
I live and I am able to give it to him. If it 
was any other old horse, I would say if you 
cannot keep him, have him killed in some 
humane manner, so he may suffer as little as 
possible, but never turn him out to starve or 
allow him worked to death by some heartless, 
cruel person. These poor dumb slaves have 
suffered much at our hands. Tom, when you 
have read my story you will know more of Old 
Pete.” 

Just then Tom having taken the tin cup from 
a nail on the wooden frame around the well, 
dipped a pint of water and dashed it into old 
Jacko’s face as he sat looking up at them wait- 
ing for Tom to return to the barn with the 
horses. 

“Oh, Tom, how could you treat old Jacko 
so?” exclaimed his mother. 

Tom laughed. That was just what he wanted 
— to change the subject and cause his mother 
to scold him. Tom led the horses back to the 
barn, Jacko following forgivingly. Mrs. Wil- 
ford went back to the house, saying to herself, 
“Boys will be boys.” 


TOM'S REFORM. 


85 


CHAPTER IV. 

Tom Begins Reading the Story of His Mother’s Life- 
Ruth Osborne’s Happy Girlhood— Her Beautiful 
Wild Flower-garden — The Never-to-be-forgotten 
Ride— Marion Wilford Accompanies Ruth Home— 
Her Father’s Strenuous Objection to Wilford ’s 
Attentions. 

Mrs. Wilford and Cherry went about arrang- 
ing the house and attending to the many duties. 
After awhile Tom came in, picked up the roll 
of paper and went up to his room. He opened 
the roll and began to read: 

“My Dear Son: — My father, your grand- 
father, William Osborne, lived in a square house 
made mostly of walnut lumber with white ash 
floors, polished so white that I well remember 
often hearing the neighbors say to my mother, 
‘Why your floor is clean enough to eat off of.’ 

“My father had painted the outside of the 
house white and the outside shutters dark 
green. The windows were of small panes of 
glass — sixteen in each — and there was a large, 
covered porch that extended across the entire 
front of the house. At one end of the porch 
father made me a swing, and many hours have 
I spent there, reading some favorite book or 
memorizing verses from my little Bible to 


86 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


repeat the coining Sabbath in my Sunday 
school class. 

“It had been my father’s ambition to collect 
on his yard and lawn one of each variety of 
forest tree native in that part of Illinois. Near 
the house was a large walnut tree, and one of 
my duties was to keep the walnuts carefully 
picked up and placed in a pile. There was one 
tree each of post oak, pin oak, water oak, red oak, 
blackjack oak, sassafras, hickory, pecan, and in 
fact too many to make complete list of here. 
Just back of the house were a few bunches of 
hazel bushes, some persimmon trees, blackhaws 
and other odd and interesting trees. My father 
would at times walk about the lawn with me, 
naming the different varieties of trees and 
shrubs, which was indeed a delight to me 
beyond measure. 

“On the north of the house was my wild 
flower garden, and father always kept a small 
garden trowel under the seat of his buggy, so 
that whenever he chanced to see a strange 
plant or flower he would take it up and bring 
it home for my wild flower-garden. 

“Many happy hours my father and I spent 
there together and oh, such beautiful wild 
flowers and ferns of endless variety that were 
to be found in the forests of Southern Illinois 
in my early girlhood! 


TOISPS REFORM, 


87 


Stop a moment from toil and care, 

Isn’t there a whispered promise here? 

Else why are these flowers of every shade 
Blooming so thick in meadow and glade? 

“My father was a man of short, stout build, 
of rather quick, excitable temperament, exact- 
ing all that was his due in trade or bargain, but 
never more. He was scrupulously honest, and 
a man most sympathetic and generous when 
brought in contact with suffering of man or 
beast; but when his antagonism was aroused 
he would never give up to the last. 

“My mother was a tall, slight woman of the 
blonde type, with such profound belief in her 
husband’s judgment and knowledge of all things 
that she rarely differed with him in thought and 
action — referring all questions of importance to 
him and abiding with implicit faith and as- 
surance in his decision. 

“Of myself I will say that I was the only 
child, having made my debut into the home 
when my parents had been married nearly 
fifteen years. I knew no name but ‘Babe’ until 
I was five years old, when one morning my 
father said to mother, ‘Wife, this child must 
have a name. She is as much like her mother 
as a child can be like a woman, and so I have 
decided to do away with all indecision and call 


88 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


her ‘Ruth the Second.’ My mother blushed, 
feeling it a compliment to herself, and agreed. 

“The fourth member of the household was 
‘Skeeter.’ I was perhaps six years old when she 
entered the family circle. One day when father, 
mother and myself were returning from a fun- 
eral, the carriage ran over a small dog, frac- 
turing one leg. The poor little animal held up 
the broken limb and whined so piteously that 
father’s quick sympathies were touched, and 
hastily alighting from the carriage he examin- 
ed the suffering little thing. It seemed to ap- 
preciate the attention bestowed and so plainly 
implored and beseeched help that father, tear- 
ing his handkerchief into strips carefully band- 
aged the fractured leg. While he was thus en- 
gaged the owner of the dog came up, and on 
seeing the condition of the animal, picked up a 
stick and remarked that he had better ‘knock it 
in the head.’ My father asked him how much 
the dog was worth. ‘It is a fox terrier and 
cost me five dollars,’ replied the man. Father 
handed him a five dollar bill, and from that time 
on ’Skeeter’ was with us as long as she lived. 
She soon recovered from the injury and proved 
a very lively and interesting pet. 

“In my youth I was very fond of horses, and 
spent a great deal of time riding the gentle ani- 
mals, bare backed, about the farm. 


TOM’S REFORM. 


89 


“As I look back now I see that my father 
was ever striving to make life happy for myself 
and mother. One evening on returning from a 
trip to St. Louis, which was about fifty miles 
distant and our nearest market, he surprised 
me with the handsomest lady’s saddle I ever 
saw. It is needless to say I was delighted. 
After that I was in the saddle a great deal. I 
would take long rides about the country, seek- 
ing new and rare plants for my wild flower- 
garden. By the time I was seventeen I had 
gained the name of being an expert horse- 
woman. 

“Once a week father would have the young 
horses brought in from the pasture and turned 
into a lot, that they might not become too wild 
and that he could look them over and see that 
they were all right. That was always quite an 
event to me. Mother and I would accompany 
father out to look at them, and a handsome 
sight it was — so many beautiful young horses 
of different colors. Father was a lover of horses 
and had the reputation of keeping the finest of 
anyone in that part of the country. 

“There was one, the handsomest of the lot, 
with heavy, flowing mane and tail — a bright, 
chestnut sorrel, so finely formed, carrying his 
head high — which father remarked was the one 


90 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


called ‘Pete.’ ‘If this horse were broken to 
ride,’ said father, ‘I would present him to you 
for your own saddle horse.’ I said nothing but 
my mind was made up at once. 

“The next day I went to the pasture deter- 
mined to catch and ride that horse. Well, I 
found it a more difficult task than I had at first 
imagined. But I succeeded. And that evening 
when father and mother had brought out their 
chairs to sit on the front porch — it being a 
warm, clear evening in June — I rode saucily up 
before them on the very horse you now call 
‘Old Pete.’ 

“I shall never forget the look of pride and 
admiration my father gave me. And I heard 
him say in a low tone to mother: ‘That is just 
the way you looked the first time we met. If 
any man ever comes a-courting here, he shall be 
worthy or he’ll feel the nails in the heel of this 
boot of mine.’ 

“One day, toward the latter part of the same 
summer, several of the horses had broken out 
of the pasture. My father with his farm hand 
had been hunting them off and on for a number 
of days, when I, on that never-to-be-forgotten 
afternoon, glad of an excuse for a long ramble, 
saddled my pet horse, Pete, fastened my trowel 
to the saddle, and telling mother that I was go- 


T03rs /REFORM. 


91 


ing to see if I could not find the horses, started 
off in a brisk gallop. 

“After a while I reined in my horse a bit and 
rode more leisurely along, looking on either 
side for the missing horses. In that part of 
Illinois at that time there would be a strip of 
timber, then it would open out into a tract of 
beautiful rolling prairie; then another belt 
of dense timber. I had passed through the 
wood near our home and into the prairie be- 
yond, looking with my little telescope (another 
present from my father on a birthday) for the 
missing horses, when I noticed that I was near- 
ing the next belt of wood. I had never before 
ventured so far, but observing that the sun was 
still high, was seized with a desire to make 
further exploration. I hoped that I might per- 
chance find some new and rare flower there and 
thought what a delight it would be to ramble in 
that as yet unfamiliar region. I marveled 
somewhat that all the friends of our family as 
well as the acquaintances at our little church 
lived in the opposite direction. 

“Sure enough, I soon came within sight of a 
handsome old farm house, and there was a look 
of thrift about it. I wondered that my folks 
had never visited those people. In the country 
those days they were near enough to be con- 


92 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


sidered neighbors, and yet I had never heard 
their names mentioned in our home. 

“As I rode past the house and along by the 
field, which was enclosed with an old-fashioned 
rail fence so common in Illinois, I saw at some 
distance in the enclosure a bright red cardinal 
flower. At one time my father had brought a 
plant of this beautiful species home for my 
garden, but from some cause it had withered 
and died. They were somewhat rare and I had 
long wished for another one. Here seemed to 
be the longed-for opportunity, and although I 
hesitated on entering a stranger’s premises 
unbidden, I reasoned with myself that there was 
nothing in the field I could harm and of course 
the plant was of no value to them. So tying 
my horse to the fence I climbed over, taking my 
trowel with me. In the field a short distance 
from the fence was a clump of persimmon trees 
and hazel bushes. I did not pay much attention 
to that fact at the time, but was on my knees 
busy at work with my trowel digging up the 
plant when I heard someone cough. Springing 
to my feet in a startled manner I beheld a 
young man just emerging from behind the 
hazel bushes. 

“He looked at me in such a half mischievous, 
half defiant manner that I felt the blood rushing 


TOM'S REFORM. 


93 


to my temples. My bonnet had fallen off, my 
hair was somewhat disleveled, and I must 
admit that I felt most uncomfortable. He raised 
his hat and laughingly remarked that he was 
surprised to find so fair a trespasser on his 
grounds. I took a step from him and in an 
embarrassed manner tried to tell him who I 
was and what I was doing. He laughed again 
and assured me that he would not immediately 
take the matter into the courts. 

“How different he seemed from the young men 
to whom I had been accustomed! The ordinary 
country boy would no doubt have been as much 
embarrassed as myself and would have found 
it equally as difficult to find language in which 
to express himself. Not so with my new-found 
acquaintance. He very promptly took my 
trowel and kneeling down quickly removed the 
plant and handed it to me, remarking that the 
crimson cardinal was one of the most showy of 
our wild flowers. ‘There is a blue flowering 
variety,’ said he, ‘also belonging to the lobelia 
family, that is worthy of being cultivated in 
our flower gardens.’ 

“Immediately my embarrassment was gone. 
A young man who cared for or knew anything 
about flowers or botany was a wonder to me. 
The only man I had ever met who was in- 


94 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


terested in or had any knowledge of such things 
was my father. 

“The young man informed me that his name 
was Marion Wilford; that he and his mother 
had only just returned to their home after a 
prolonged absence. He said that his mother 
had kept him in school since he was a small boy 
and that he felt almost like a stranger here, al- 
though it was his birthplace. 

“After helping me over the fence and assist- 
ing me to remount, he walked beside my horse, 
talking very entertainingly until we came near 
the house. He then invited me to stop in and 
meet his mother, but I thanked him and said 
that I must hurry on, as I wished to reach home 
before dark. With that I dashed off at a rapid 
pace — and in fact could scarcely hold Pete in, as 
he too was anxious to reach home. After some 
little time I reined my horse up to a more 
moderate gate, when I heard the distant sound 
of horse’s hoofs bearing down on me very 
briskly. Involuntarily I loosened Pete’s rein 
somewhat and on looking back saw the hand- 
some young man mounted on a coal-black 
horse, riding very swiftly, and in a moment 
he was by my side. I thought his horse a very 
beautiful animal, except that it had such a very 
short tail. I thought perhaps some accident 
had befallen it. 


TOJ^rS REFORM, 


95 


“Mr. Wilford raised his hat very gallantly 
and by way of explanation of his unexpected 
re-appearance, said that he had feared it 
would be quite dark by the time I arrived home, 
and that with my consent he would accompany 
me the V. remaining distance. He noticed my 
slight hesitation, and quickly perceiving that I 
was somewhat in doubt as to the propriety of 
allowing a stranger to act as my escort, re- 
marked that we were really neighbors; that our 
parents were old settlers and no doubt friends. 
I admitted that company home would be very 
agreeable, and as we rode along he told me a 
great deal of the different cities he had visited; 
of his college life and how his mother had set 
her heart on making a physician of him; that 
although he had studied medicine and obtained 
his ‘sheepskin,’ he perferred being a plain tiller 
of the soil, and had come back home to take 
possession of his property. Farm life, he said, 
was the life for him! 

“Mr. Wilford was very much interested in the 
science of botany and had books on the subject 
that were of a later date than mine. He knew 
of many beautiful flowering plants that I had 
not as yet learned of. He agreed with me that 
the red asclepias, belonging to the milkweed 
family, made a very handsome fall blooming 


96 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


plant when removed to the flower garden and 
given cultivation. He told me to pinch the top 
off my cardinal plant, making it branch out, and 
I would see what a beauty it would be. 

“When we came to the avenue of trees lead- 
ing Up to my house we dismounted and walked 
up to the gate leading our horses. I invited 
him in, wishing very much to introduce him to 
my father. I felt sure he was just the kind of 
young man in whom father would be interested. 
He declined my invitation to come in, but said 
that with my permission he would call another 
time. The permission was readily granted and 
with a cheery good-night I hurried into the house 
full of delight. I longed to relate my happy 
experience of the afternoon and felt sure that 
father would be quite interested in the story. 
I thought that, as young Wilford had said, in 
all probability our fathers had been old friends. 

“As I opened the door I was utterly amazed 
at the reception my father gave me. He met 
me with a savage glare that almost took my 
breath. Having found the missing horses some 
hours before, he had been expecting me home. 

‘Who is that cur with a docked-tail horse, 
girl?’ he stormed out. 

‘Oh, father, he is not a “cur;” he is a gentle- 
man whom you would like very much if you 
knew him,’ I hastened to reply. 


TOAPS REFORM. 


97 


*The mischief he is!’ exclaimed my father. 
*What is his name, I demand?’ 

“ ‘Marion Wilford,’ I replied, scarcely able 
by this time to answer. 

“ ‘Exactly what I thought; and a young ras- 
cal he is, originating from a breed of rascals. 
I have known as many of the Wilford men as I 
want to know — they are all a fast, horse-racing, 
drinking set of fellows. I knew his father well. 
His wife was trying to get a guardian ap- 
pointed for him to keep him from squandering 
the property, when he accommodated the family 
by dying and going to a drunkard’s grave. No 
man of that stripe shall come courting my 
daughter.’ 

“ ‘Father,’ I at last found breath enough to 
say, ‘he has not come courting; it was by chance 
we met. As it was growing late he only saw 
me home through politeness.’ 

“ ‘Very “polite,” I should say. Well, from 
this time on do you see to it that this is the 
last time.’ 

“By that time I had lost control of myself 
and hastily left the room to give vent to my 
tears. Father had never spoken so harshly to 
me before and it was almost more than I could 
bear. As I was leaving the room I heard 
mother say; 


98 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


‘Oh, father, I don’t have any idea the child 
cares anything about him; You know she never 
does care for any of them.’ 

“ ‘Wife, if you have any sense at all, you 
know that in the beginning is the only time to 
quash such a thing.’ 

“I heard no more, but went supperless to 
bed to cry myself off to sleep. 


TOM*S REFORM. 


99 


CHAPTER V. 

The Unpleasantness between Ruth and Her Father Has 
Vanished — Mrs. Wilford Visits at the Osborne 
Home — Ruth Does Not Enjoy Being Kissed by a 
Lady Who Has Just Kissed a Pet Poodle. 

“The next morning I had a dreadful head- 
ache, and my eyes were swollen until I was a 
sight to behold. When mother came to my 
room and kissed me and pressed her hands on 
my aching brow, I begged her to let me remain 
in my room until father had breakfasted and 
gone out to his morning work. I felt ashamed 
of my swollen eyes and was somewhat angry 
with father, too. I felt that he had been rather 
harsh with me and that if he did not like the 
young man, and knew so much of his people, 
he might have talked it over with me in a more 
gentle manner. 

“At last when mother thought father had 
gone, she came into my room. I had dressed 
and bathed my eyes, and went out with her to 
the breakfast table. As I sat at the table my 
back was toward the door, which was standing 
open. Father slipped in at the door and softly 
putting his arm around my neck drew my head 
back against him as he said, ‘Ruthie, was your 


100 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


father harsh and savage? Well, just remember 
this, my child: It was for your good.’ Then 
kissing me on the forehead, he quickly left the 
room and went back to his work. 

“All the little anger that had been aroused 
against my father now left me. I knew and 
felt all the time that whatever father did or said 
was for my good, and I knew he was a sudden 
man. I talked it all over with mother, and she 
acknowledged that the Wilfords, so far as they 
had known them, were as father had said. 
That they had had considerable property among 
them, and that Mrs. Wilford was a woman who 
had seen a great deal of trouble; that her 
eldest sons, while not drinking so much as 
their father, mingled with the same crowd, and 
their associates were of the same class. She 
had heard it said that after the old man Wilford 
died, and the older boys had scattered off some- 
where in the east, Mrs. Wilford was now trying 
very hard to raise this last and younger son up 
a better man than either of his elder brothers. 
But mother thought Mrs. Wilford would have 
come nearer accomplishing her object if she 
had remained on the farm instead of removing 
to the city or traveling about as she had done. 

“I related to mother what young Wilford 
had said about his mother having kept him in 


TOjWS reform. 


101 


school until he had completed his medical 
course and received his diploma; that he had, 
however, decided to take up farming rather 
than follow the profession which had taken him 
several years of study to acquire. 

“Mother was not quite certain that such a 
course spoke well for a young man; she thought 
that perhaps he was not inclined to apply him- 
self to anything for a sufficient length of time 
to make a success of it. And her opinion was 
that any young man who expected to run a farm 
by employing men to take all the hard work 
off his shoulders, making the business a ‘soft 
snap’ for himself, would sooner or later find 
that he had made a grand mistake. 

“After that we let the subject drop. My 
greatest dread, however, was that Marion Wil- 
ford would call at sometime. I had cordially 
invited him, but felt fearful of the consequences. 
I knew my father would not treat him civilly, 
although in my mind the chances seemed rather 
remote that he would wish to call often, as I 
did not doubt that he had young lady friends 
in the city far more suited to his cultivated taste 
than a dull country girl like myself. But I felt 
it would be gross ill manners on our part when 
he was simply visiting us as a neighbor would, 
to ill treat him. 


102 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


The weeks slipped by and I saw or heard 
nothing of the stranger. I had about recovered 
from the dread of his expected visit, when one 
sunny afternoon we saw a carriage, with a col- 
ored driver on the front seat, coming up the 
lane leading to the house. 

“ I looked about hastily, arranging any little 
thing which happened to be awry, while mother 
raised the parlor curtains, letting in more light. 

“When we glanced out again the colored man 
had assisted a lady to alight from the carriage 
and she was coming up the walk closely follow- 
ed by a small, white poodle. 

‘Who can it be?’ I whispered to mother. 

“ ‘I surely have seen that face somewhere,’ 
she replied after a moment’s reflection; then 
suddenly exclaimed: ‘It is Mrs. Wilford!’ 

“I felt my face pale as mother opened the 
door and invited her in. 

“She was a lady of slight physique and at- 
tired in heavy black silk. Although of sallow 
complexion, she possessed the handsome, dark 
eyes of her son, and there was a trace of sad- 
ness in her voice as she spoke. 

“The little white poodle had followed her in 
and as soon as she was seated he began putting 
up first one fore foot, then the other, and soon 
jumped into her lap. She patted and smoothed 


TOM^S REFORM. 


103 


the dog’s head as she conversed, frequently- 
taking hold of his mouth and lips with her bare 
fingers — her gloves being of the silk half-mit 
variety so fashionable in those days. 

“I could scarcely keep the surprise and dis- 
comfiture from showing in my face as I watched 
her familiarity with the poodle. My whole 
being revolted at the sight, as I had never be- 
fore met a lady with a lap dog, and had no idea 
that any lady would indulge in such indelicacy 
with any pet animal — much less a dog. When 
a child I had many happy romps with ‘Skeeter’, 
but my father had always taught me to be- 
ware of the mouth of a dog or cat; for while 
the dog in many ways appeals to our sympa- 
thies, yet we should never forget the fact that 
danger and disease lurk in the mouth of these 
animals. 

“Aside from her unpleasant familiarity with 
the dog, Mrs. Wilford was to me a very 
interesting person. She seemed to be a well- 
informed woman in the way of books, and had 
traveled and seen something of the world. 
She was telling of the impression she had receiv- 
ed on her first view of the ocean, and my thoughts 
were soaring in imagination of the beautiful 
picture, when I saw her insert two of her wax- 
white fingers into the dog’s mouth! My mother 


104 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


had also been very much interested. As Mrs. 
Wilford arose from her chair the dogf seemed 
to understand that his mistress was making 
ready to go and running to the front parlor 
door, which was beautifully grained in oak, put 
his two white paws up and made several long 
scratches on one panel. Mrs. Wilford seeing 
this caught up the dog in her arms, saying, 
‘Oh, you naughty pet Fido,’ and kissed him 
squarely on the mouth. 

“On taking her departure, Mrs. Wilford chal- 
lenged my mother with her lack of courtesy 
toward her neighbors, saying that she should 
have called on her ere this; that she was indeed 
glad to have met her charming daughter, and 
that when my mother should return her call, to 
be sure and bring her daughter with her. Say- 
ing this, she turned and kissed me on the mouth 
just as she had kissed the dog a very few min- 
utes previous. 

“As Mrs. Wilford closed the door behind her 
mother and I stood looking at each other for a 
half minute. Then my mother said: 

“ ‘Mrs. Wilford is a most interesting lady.’ 

Yes, mother; but oh, the dog! ’ was my 
first remark. 

“ ‘My child,’ said my mother, ‘I was not so 
much surprised. Your opportunity for observ- 


TOM^S REFORM. 


lOS 


ing the habits and customs of the different 
classes of people has been very limited. I have 
known many a home where the rights and priv- 
ileges of any member of the family were only 
secondary as compared with those of the dog.’ 

“To be unneighborly in those times was 
most inexcusable in the eyes of the community, 
so mother arrived at the conclusion that she 
would be obliged to call on Mrs. Wilford — but 
would leave me at home. 


106 


ONLY A HOJ^SE; OR, 


CHAPTER VI. 

The Handsome Young Stranger Attends Church— All 
the Girls Are Deeply Interested— Rose Tries to 
Avoid Young Wilford. 

“After a while we had forgotten the Wilfords, 
with our busy life, taking care of the fruit, 
making our preserves, jellies, etc. Father had 
made another trip to St. Louis, this time bring- 
ing me home a handsome riding suit of dark 
blue cloth. With very little alteration it was a 
perfect fit. And I was full of happy anticipa- 
tion for the coming Sabbath. 

^‘At that time most young men and women 
rode horseback to church; the older people and 
the rest of the family using the ordinary farm 
wagon — a few only having a buggy or spring 
wagon. 

“The morning of the long-looked-for Sabbath 
dawned bright and clear, getting rather warm 
as the day rose. 

“Mother and I hurried through the morning 
work, and I donned my blue riding suit, also 
my white sunbonnet lined inside with pink. 

“I well remember how admiringly father 
looked at me as I mounted my pet horse Pete, 
then so young and handsome, tossing his head 
with impatience to start. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


107 


“I rode off somewhat in advance of father 
and mother to meet my friend Rose Cummings 
at the cross roads above father’s field, per- 
haps half a mile distant. From there we fol- 
lowed a winding road, bordered on either side 
with hazel bushes and large oak and hickory 
trees, that led to the little church. Sometimes 
you would see wound about a tall tree a grape 
vine or perhaps a trumpet vine, with large 
clusters of red trumpet-like flowers shining in 
the topmost branches. 

“We rode along chatting as girls will of the 
neighborhood news and small gossip. As we 
neared the little church we saw that a good 
many of the young folks had arrived in advance 
of us and were in groups about under the trees 
and in front of the church. 

“Rose Cummings suddenly leaned over and 
whispered to me, ‘Who can that young man be 
with store clothes and black mustache in front 
of the church?’ 

“I felt the color rush to my face, but to my 
relief Rose not noticing me or waiting for my 
reply, hurriedly tied her horse to a tree and 
rushed off to a group of girls to ask the same 
question over again. 

“At that time the arrival of a stranger in the 
neighborhood was of such rare occurrence that 


108 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


all noticed the fact and were thrillingly in- 
terested. 

“I found some trivial excuse to loiter until 
the stranger had gone in, then, as was my 
custom, went well up in front, while the stranger 
was seated in the back of the church near the 
door. 

“Little did I hear of the sermon that day. I 
felt it my duty to speak to the young man and 
give him welcome, and yet felt that I must 
avoid him as much as possible. 

“I was very much relieved as I noticed when 
the service was over that a middle-aged lady 
seemed to know the stranger and was introduc- 
ing him to the young people. Slipping by in 
the isle on the opposite side of the church, I 
whispered to my father and mother that I would 
hurry home and start dinner. As I neared the 
door Rose grasped my hand saying, ‘What’s 
your hurry, Ruth Osborne? Wait a minute — 
let’s get introduced to the strange young man, 
then I will go with you.’ 

“I told her I had promised to hurry home 
and start the dinner. ‘You surely have taken 
a very industrious streak’, remarked my friend. 

“Usually my mother tarried to chat with the 
neighbors a while before starting home. 

“I had untied my horse and was just ready 


TOM'S REFORM. 


109 


to mount when my mother came hurrying after 
me saying that father had lost his whip and I 
must go and help him hunt it. He had carried 
it with him for fear of losing it and must have 
dropped it somewhere. Again fastening my 
horse I went to help hunt the whip. 

“While thus engaged I met Mrs. William- 
son, my Sunday school teacher, who wished to 
talk about a supper she had planned to give our 
class, and several other things in connection 
with Sunday school affairs. Mrs. Williamson 
was a lady who was not inclined in any way to 
shorten or abridge her conversation when on a 
subject that awakened her interest. While she 
was talking to me I noticed that my father had 
found his whip and that with mother in the 
buggy he had started for home. 

“Rose Cummings was standing beside her 
horse waiting for me to come. At last my 
teacher hearing her husband calling to her, 
laughingly waved her hand to me and hurried off. 

“Again I went to my horse. Rose indulged 
in a little good-natured railery about the dinner 
I was in haste to prepare, saying I had just as 
well have waited and met the handsome stranger. 
She was excitedly telling me of all she had heard 
about him, when he suddenly rode up on the 
same coal-black horse. Gallantly raising his 


110 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


hat, he remarked that our paths lay in the same 
direction. Rose gave him a hearty and eager 
welcome, then introduced to me ‘Marion Wil- 
ford.’ When I acknowledged that we had met 
before, her eyes opened wide. 

“Rose chatted, laughed and giggled in a hys- 
terical manner as we rode along; but not so 
with myself. I had very little to say. There 
was a feeling of dread hanging over me. What 
would my father say and do? Then the thought 
came to my mind that when we arrived at the 
cross roads Mr. Wilford would turn off and 
escort Rose home. He seemed so interested in 
her conversation that the consoling thought put 
me more at my ease. 

“But to my surprise, when we reached the 
cross roads he lifted his hat to Rose and 
rode straight on with me. I felt the color leav- 
ing my cheeks and my heart beat wildly, but he 
chatted gaily, not seeming to notice my 
agitation. 

“With his quick wit and ready speech he so 
interested and amused me that I half forgot 
the storm I felt sure would follow should father 
chance to be on the lookout for my return. 

“As we rode along there chanced to be a 
grape vine that had fallen loose from the top 
of a tree and hung projecting out over the road 


TOM^S REFORM, 


111 


on one side. He rode his horse up very close 
to mine, causing me to ride under the vine. 
With one hand he reached up and taking hold 
of the vine caused it to just tip my sunbonnet, 
brushing it back off my face; then leaning for- 
ward he looked laughingly into my eyes. I felt 
my face redden deeply. We both laughed 
slightly, and after that rode along in silence 
until we arrived at my father’s gate. 

“Then suddenly I felt a thrill of terror run 
through me, fearful lest he should dismount to 
open the gate and expect me to walk up to the 
house with him as I did on the evening of our 
first meeting. But he only, in an expert manner 
without dismounting, unfastened the gate and 
swung it open for me to pass through, then 
gaily raising his hat, rode away. 


112 


ONLY A HORSE: OR, 


CHAPTER VII. 

Young Wilford Saves Rose and Her Mother from a 
Serious Mishap— He Spends the Evening with 
Them — Ruth’s Cousin, Mabel Osborne, Visits Her. 

“After that Sunday I remained at home for a 
few Sabbaths while my parents went to church 
— which arrangement my father seemed to like 
very much. 

“Soon I began to hear from the neighbor 
girls of the marked attention Marion Wilford 
was paying Rose Cummings — escorting her to 
and from the church, literary societies and 
other places of social amusement among the 
young people. 

“After a time my friends began to question 
me on my continued absence at their gatherings 
and I longed for my place in the society of 
my young associates. 

“Feeling rather lonesome one afternoon — 
father being gone on one of his trips to the 
city — I persuaded mother to go with me out for 
a drive. As it was my delight to do, I had 
chosen a young spirited animal for my buggy 
horse. We visited some of our friends and 
were returning home. As we neared the large 
outside gate the blind bridle slipped from my 
horse’s head which gave him a fright and he 


TOM^S REFORM. 


113 


started to run. At that moment Marion Wil- 
ford came riding up on his large, strong, black 
horse. Quick as a flash he rode his horse up 
driving mine into the rail fence and bringing it 
to a stand-stilL 

“Mother and I both felt that by his gallantry 
and kindness he had saved our lives, and could 
scarcely find words to express our appreciation 
of the favor he had done us. He hastily 
waived the subject and remarked that he was 
just coming to make us that call he had long 
promised. Mother invited him in, and that 
evening he took supper with us. When we 
withdrew to the parlor after supper he drew 
from his pocket the joints of a flute, with which 
when put together he made the sweetest music 
I had ever heard in my life. Noticing that I 
had a guitar in the corner of the room he asked 
me to accompany him, which I found I could 
do fairly well. 

“Oh, my boy, I spent one of the happiest 
evenings that night I have ever enjoyed in my 
life. I had never before heard the flute and 
have never since heard another play as he did 
that evening. Sometimes it was like the sweet, 
plaintive notes of some distant bird in the 
wood; then like a thousand birds all at once, 
filling the room with an outburst of melodious 
vibration. I was so rapt in admiration that at 
times I found myself forgetting to accompany 


114 


ONLY A HORSE: OR, 


him and would be only holding my guitar listen- 
ing to the sweet melody. 

“That eve after he had taken his departure 
my mother freely expressed her admiration of 
him. ‘I do not care what his father and 
brother did,’ said she, ‘I consider Marion Wil- 
ford a gentleman, and Rose Cummings will be 
a fortunate girl if see marries him.’ I had very 
little to say about him, not wishing to appear 
specially interested. 

“The next day on my father’s arrival we told 
him of our narrow escape, and he was very 
much interested and concerned about the 
accident until we told him who our rescuer was. 
Then it seemed to mother and myself that he 
did not properly appreciate the service young 
Wilford had rendered us. 

“On his return from the city, father was 
accompanied by his brother’s daughter, Mabel 
Osborne, a young girl of about my own age and 
size. She was greatly interested and wished 
very much to meet the hero of our little 
romance, as she called it. 

“I suggested that on the coming Sunday she 
should take my horse and ride in my place to 
church, while I would remain at home and look 
after the preparation for dinner. 

“My cousin said that she knew something 


TOAPS REFORAT. 


115 


about horse-back riding, but did not feel like 
going without her riding habit. I offered her 
the use of mine, with the remark that it was 
blue — just the color of the one she had worn 
when visiting with us the season previous. 
Mabel clapped her hands with joy, saying that 
would be too delightful for anything. 

“On the arrival of that Sunday morning, 
father and mother rode off to church in the 
small open buggy quite early. My blue riding 
habit seemed to fit Mabel quite as well as my- 
self, and as she turned from the glass I saw 
her give a coquettish little glance at herself 
over her shoulder. When she started out I 
brought my white, pink-lined sunbonnet and 
offered it to her, with the remark that she had 
better wear it, as every one out here wore sun- 
bonnets — and besides, the long ride on a country 
road was very trying on the complexion. 
Again I saw a little flash of that coquettish look 
come into her eyes as she very readily accepted 
my bonnet. 

“As my cousin mounted she remarked that 
Pete was a beauty, but that she would some- 
what prefer him not quite so spirited. I gave 
her all the advice I could about managing him, 
but could not quite understand why there was 
a strange little flutter at my heart as all rode off 
out of sight. 


116 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“On my cousin’s return from church she was 
so full of delight she could scarcely contain 
herself. At the first opportunity she whispered 
to me that she had the best joke I ever heard 
to tell me. As soon as convenient we slipped 
off to ourselves, when she said that in church 
she saw no one that answered to the description 
of Mr. Wilford, but that after they had started 
for home — my father and mother in the buggy 
and she following on her horse — there suddenly 
rode up beside her a very handsome young 
man, of dark complexion, on a coal black horse 
with a docked tail. I asked her why she called 
the horse’s tail docked — that I supposed some 
accident had befallen the animal. I could not 
understand why my cousin laughed with so 
much hilarity and was so greatly amused. 
After awhile she explained to me that it was 
style; that in the cities the fancy driving and 
race horses were usually treated that way. I 
thought that a cruel fashion, and said that it 
seemed to me nature had given him a tail that 
he might use it in self-defense against trouble- 
some insects, as flies, mosquitoes, and the like. 
Mabel said that for her part she had never taken 
time to think of that; that it was style, and that 
was all she knew. Then again my cousin was 
taken with a fit of laughter. When she had 


TOM'S REFORM. 


117 


recovered sufficiently to talk, I again asked her 
the cause of her merriment. 

“ ‘Oh, I experienced the most fun I ever had 
in my life,’ she replied; and then in her ecstacy 
rattled on that she knew it was young Wilford, 
and that he addressed her as ‘Miss Osborne;’ 
and that being her name, too, she did not know 
that she was under obligation to explain who 
she was. She chatted with him in a coy man- 
ner, taking care that he never got to see quite 
inside her sunbonnet; and oh, he was a regular 
‘trump;’ he said the most nice things and she 
was just a ‘busting inside.’ 

“Then she went oif in another fit of laughter. 
For my part I didn’t see the fun, but was hor- 
rified; I knew there was no trusting my cousin, 
as there was no telling what she might say or 
do. She said once she thought he was going 
to kiss her, but guessed he was only trying to 
get a peep inside her sunbonnet. She said 
when he talked flowers, she was fearful lest he 
would catch her there, but that she ‘hedged’ as 
best she could and told him of her wild-flower 
garden, and that she had a dark red flowering 
plant there that she had topped and that she 
wished very much he could see. Mabel told 
him she often took her book and sat out there 
in the shade under the trees on warm afternoons. 


118 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“Seeing my troubled look she caught me up 
in her arms, saying, ‘You dear little goose of a 
cousin, do you think I would do or say anything 
that would do you any harm? When we arriv- 
ed at the gate I let my sunbonnet fall back from 
my head, and you ought to have seen the color 
of his face. Well, I had a good laugh, and he 
laughed too,’ she went on. ‘Then I explained 
and introduced myself and we both laughed 
again. I tell you he is a regular “trump” and 
as cute as he can be — don’t seem a bit like a 
country boy.’ 

“I told her that he had only lately returned 
to his country home; that he really had been 
raised more in the city than country. I also 
told her of my father’s dislike for him, and that 
father thought him a fast young man. 

‘Fudge!’ exclaimed my cousin; I wouldn’t 
give a cent for a young man with no snap in 
him. Do you suppose when uncle was in his 
twenties he was as staid and practical as he now 
is? Why, I’ve heard it said that every young 
man has to ‘‘sow his wild oats.” For my part, 
if it wasn’t that I already have a sweetheart, 
and that I’m obliged to cut my visit short as 
school begins soon; — if it were not for these 
reasons and a few more — I don’t know what I 
might do myself. Anyway I think he is a per- 


TOM'S REFORM. 


119 


feet “stunner” and you are a regular little goose. 

“Saying this she again grabbed me up in her 
arms and kissed me as was her way. 

“I said nothing, — in fact she gave me no 
time to say anything; and as we heard the din- 
ner bell ring we went in for dinner. 


120 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER VIII. 

An Unexpected Visit from Marion Wilford with Start- 
ling Consequences — The Elopement. 

During the week my cousin returned to her 
home, as the city schools were to open the fol- 
lowing Monday, and she was yet in school. 

“For a week or two I remained very closely 
at home, only slipping away from the house at 
times to wander alone about the lawn among 
the trees. I mostly took a book with me, but 
really read very little. 

“One warm evening in September I had 
slipped away to myself, and wandering about 
the lawn came to my wild-flower garden on the 
north of the house. I strolled around my 
flower beds thinking how soon the frost would 
take the remaining few of them, and how soon 
the ground would be cold and bare. On one 
side was a large bank of wild small-flowering 
blue asters and blue cardinals; then a large 
clump of bright scarlet asclepias. Still further 
on was a large bank of wild white ageratum and 
white asters. Situated in front of this was my 
dark red cardinal. I had pinched the top out 
of the cardinal as Marion Wilford had suggested, 
causing it to branch out in every direction; and 



I 



“Did your cousin tell you that I escorted you home by proxy 

the other Sunday?” 










M '■ 


■w ‘ M 

, ' ' ‘ ., • ^ I 

• 4 u - '». - 


■v%>- - 


- - • X ‘ V Efr^ -Vi& 1 

- 4 -'‘.‘^ •■■ -^-^ , ,, . ■ .f'V * • ■ 

?r‘_ - JP-Vr ' .-h .' 

■'* ' ' • xiV' ■ ' 


, » 


" A,’ • ■- '^ 

Bn* ' iftfiaC;* - ■ •r.tst ' , 








' *• n 


'4 » 


.>Jii 


'a ■-■ 

^.ji waa;- . , - .'r, '■isJ 

■ '► •■ B'*. • ' '* '"}( 


1 « *. 
i 





E / il A-. '- ■■ • -:'^ 

■ '."“Vs * 4 r^‘ 

*’v ■ : '^. ■*N ■ 

• JBBBh 9L " 








T03rs REFORM. 


121 


with its red, velvet-looking flowers it was in- 
deed a thing of beauty. 

“I stood looking at it for awhile, then feeling 
a little tired went a few steps to a large oak 
tree where I had made a unique rustic seat by 
placing a small bench against the tree and pull- 
ing down a grape vine that was clinging to the 
tree had trained it on either side for arms to 
my seat. I had spent many happy hours here, 
alone with my book. I had just sat down when 
Marion Wilford suddenly stepped in front 
of me. 

“ ‘Pardon me if I have startled you,’ he said, 
raising his hat. 

“ ‘I am not so easily startled,’ I replied, and 
not seeing what else I could do, invited him to 
have a seat beside me. At first we talked of 
common-place things, such as the wind and 
weather. He asked of my cousin, whether or 
not she had returned to her home. Then laugh- 
ing and moving a little closer to me, he asked, 
‘Did your cousin tell you I escorted you home 
by proxy the other Sunday?’ 

“I felt my face changing color deeply as I 
admitted she had, moving as far from him as I 
could on the seat. 

“ ‘Ruth,’ he said, using my Christian name 
for the first time, ‘I find it very hard to meet 


122 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


you anywhere. Your cousin gave me a ‘tip’ of 
this little retreat of yours. I would hate to 
admit how many times I have wandered up and 
down outside your rail fence and even been so 
impudent as to loiter behind the trees on your 
father’s lawn.’ 

“My heart was beating wildly. 

“ ‘Ruth, I know that I am no favorite of your 
father’s,’ he said, moving a little farther from 
me on the seat, leaning his elbows on his knees 
and head in his hands, ‘but I am not so utterly 
bad as your father thinks. I admit I have not 
always walked in the straight and narrow way, 
but I am not wholly bad. I never drank to 
excess in my life that I know of. Ruth,’ he 
said tremblingly, ‘am I beyond redemption?’ 

“I had moved closer to him now. 

“ ‘Does your Bible not teach of repentance 
and forgivenness of sin?’ 
t “I was trembling too much to speak. 

“ ‘Ruth, but give me a hint, and I will go 
from you forever,’ he said. ‘I would scorn the 
man who would in any way intrude his atten- 
tions on a lady.’ 

“Saying this, he made as if to rise. 

“ ‘Oh, no; do not,’ I breathlessly whispered. 

“ ‘What is the difference what I do or where 
^ I go — what does it matter?’ he stammered. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


123 


“I was clinging to his arm now. 

“ ‘Ruth,’ he whispered, taking firm hold of 
my hand. 

“I could not answer. For awhile we sat in 
silence. 

“ ‘Ruth,’ he again said, ‘what is there for us 
but to separate?’ I would fight for you with 
anyone else, but not with your father. And he 
would never consent.’ • 

“He raised to his feet. I arose also, still 
clinging to him. 

“ ‘With you by my side, Ruth, I would show 
the world what a man I could be.’ Then 
suddenly he faced me. Again grasping my 
hand he said, ‘Ruth, fly with me — fly with me, 
Ruth! That is the only way out. I will prove 
to your father he is mistaken in his judgment 
of me.’ 

“For a moment I hesitated. Then he made 
as if to go. 

“ ‘Oh, Marion,’ I murmured; ‘I will, I will!’ 

“ ‘Ruth, darling, before God, you would not 
make me such a promise as this to break it to- 
morrow?’ 

“ ‘I would not,’ I answered. 

“Clasping me in his arms he kissed me, then 
turning from me was gone in an instant. 

“I dropped back on the seat with a bewilder- 


124 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ed feeling. It had all come and gone so sud- 
denly. Surely I was dreaming. I gazed about 
me in a dazed sort of way. Then suddenly re- 
membering my father, the awfulness of my 
promise rushed in on my mind. It would 
break his heart — I felt sure it would; and he 
would never forgive me on earth. In bitter 
anguish I wrung my hands. I dared not shed 
tears. Swollen eyes would cause inquiries. 
What should I do? Then I remembered my 
lover’s words: T will prove to your father that 
he is mistaken in his judgment of me,’ and I 
thought when father knows how good my Mar- 
ion is, and how happy we are, he will forgive 
us. Why, he would have no reason to hold a 
grudge against us then; he only wants to see 
his daughter happy. 

“Then my feelings took another turn. Hap- 
piness, such happiness as I had never felt in 
my life came over me. I started to my feet, a 
smile on my face; everything looked so beauti- 
ful. I suddenly remembered that it was grow- 
ing late and feared lest I had been missed. 

“As I approached the back kitchen door 
I saw my father going with his milk pails on 
down toward the barn. My mother came to 
the door, looking about forme, and gave a little 
call; then on seeing me, exclaimed, ‘My child. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


125 


where have you been all this time? Father and 
I got so interested over a piece he was reading 
to me from that new book your uncle sent him 
on his last birthday that we clear forgot you.’ 

“ ‘Oh,’ I replied, ‘I have just been about the 
lawn and in my wild-flower garden.’ 

“ ‘Well, daughter, we must hurry the supper; 
see, father has gone to milk the cows.’ 

“At times I was very happy, going about 
my work singing and sometimes smiling to 
myself; then again I would be taken with re- 
morse and would be in the depths of despair. 

“Very often I would take my book and go 
out to the old oak tree, but no one came. 

“As the weeks sped on I began to feel 
uneasy. The frost had killed all my flowers; 
the leaves turned brown and began to fall, but 
as yet no lover had made his appearance. I 
became greatly troubled. My father and 
mother grew anxious, having noticed that all 
was not well with me. They tried to persuade 
me to visit about the neighborhood more and 
mingle with the young people. But I had lost 
all my interest in society. Then they tried to' 
send me to St. Louis to visit with my cousin. 
That I would in no way consider. 

“One afternoon I slipped away as usual at 
the first opportunity to my oak tree and seated 


126 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


myself on the rustic seat to meditate. How 
long I remained there I do not know, but after 
trying to reason with myself for some time as 
to my lover’s long absence, my courage gave 
way and I said to myself, ‘He has changed his 
mind; I know he will never come.’ I lay my 
head down on the arm of the seat and was 
weeping silently, when I heard the dry leaves 
crack, and on looking up saw my Marion stand- 
ing beside me. 

“My heart bounded with joy as I rose to 
greet him. He told me he was in great haste; 
that he had all arrangements made and would 
come for me the next morning. He had learned 
that my father would start on a trip to the city 
tomorrow, and he thought we would get off 
easily. 

“I promised I would meet him as early as 
possible, under the oak tree. 

“With a kiss he left me, and I returned to the 
house fully decided and happy. I felt sure 
when it was all over and father came to know 
my dear Marion he would love him too. 

“We were astir early the next morning. My 
father and his man were preparing the wagon 
with bows and wagon sheet; mother and myself 
packing a box of cooked food in picnic style for 
father and his hands. They were to take a 


TOUTS REFORM, 


127 


drove of cattle through to St. Louis. Several 
men were to accompany them on horseback to 
drive the cattle. 

“Mother and I watched them off, then went 
into the house — mother arranging the kitchen 
and looking after the work there, while I was 
to attend to the duties up-stairs. 

“I hurriedly arranged the rooms, then took a 
few of the clothes I felt the most necessary and 
packed them into a small, old-fashioned ‘carpet- 
bag.’ Dropping this satchel out of the window, 
I went out and hid it in a grape arbor that was 
between the house and my wild-flower garden. 
I then went into the kitchen and told mother 
that Rose Cummings had asked me to come 
over to her house as she and a few other girls 
were going to gather hazel nuts. There were 
clumps of them growing along the edges of the 
fields, and especially in wooded pasture land. 
Rose had really invited me for that day, though 
I had not promised that I would be one of her 
party. 

“My mother glad to see me interested, readily 
gave her consent. 

“The only company left with mother was a 
colored woman that we kept employed to help 
with the house work and a man of all work that 
father kept on the farm at all times. 


128 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“I hurried back to my room, attiring myself 
in that which I thought best suited to the occa- 
sion; then threw on over all one of my loose, 
everyday dresses — while hid under my apron 
was a small dress hat which I wore only on 
special occasions. 

“I slipped out while mother was very busy, 
lest she should observe some difference in my 
appearance. Taking the small satchel from the 
grape arbor I hastened through the wild-flower 
garden to the oak tree. There I found my 
lover waiting and impatient to start. 

He grasped my satchel in one hand and my 
hand in the other, while we hurried to the rail 
fence and climbed over. There he had a hack 
with driver on front seat in waiting. When we 
were settled in our places he drew from beneath 
the seat a large, warm wrap. Calling my atten- 
tion to it, he remarked that he had brought it 
for me to wear in case the weather should turn 
cold toward evening, as in all probability it 
would do this time of year. How thoughtful 
my dear Marion was! How far my father was 
from knowing his disposition! I felt perfect 
confidence in him and was happy. 

“As we hurried along he asked whether I 
was quite eighteen yet. I replied that I would 
not be eighteen until December. He said then 


TOM'S REFORM. 


129 


we would be obliged to go to Chester, on the 
Mississippi river. There we would cross on the 
ferry boat and be married on the other side, 
since in the state of Missouri it was then not 
necessary to obtain a license. He was acquaint- 
ed with a justice of the peace living near the 
landing on the Missouri side who would gladly 
accommodate us. He had seen my father start 
on his trip and felt sure we would have no 
trouble. 


130 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER IX. 

Mr. Osborne Starts on His Journey, But Turns Back— 
The News of the Elopement Strikes Him Like a 
Thunder Bolt— He Starts in Hot Pursuit. 

“My father had not gone peacefully on his 
journey as we had expected. After traveling a 
few miles he began to have a feeling of dread 
which he could not account for. The more he 
tried to dismiss the thought the more was his 
anxiety. He said to himself, ‘All was well when 
I left home a couple of hours ago. What can it 
mean — why do I have that feeling? Something 
is certainly wrong at home. My wife is suddenly 
ill, or some accident has happened.’ 

“He was riding along deep in thought, when 
it was his wont to joke and laugh, always at 
such times carrying on some pleasantry with 
his men. Presently one of them called out, 
‘What’s the matter, governor? Seems like 
you’re uncommon sober.’ 

“ ‘Boys,’ he said, stopping his team, ‘I know 
you’ll be surprised and think I’m a fool when 
I tell you I’m going to turn back right here 
and now. Think what you will, boys; I can’t 
account for it myself, but I feel as sure there is 
some trouble at home as if I were there and 
saw iU I didn’t know I was superstitious — I 


TOJirS REFORM, 


131 


had never thought that I was; but I cannot 
go on.’ 

“ ‘You are ill,’ said another one of his men 
who was riding close to the wagon. 

“ ‘I never felt better physically in my life,’ 
he replied. ‘One of you men ride ahead and 
tell the other boys to turn back the cattle, we’ll 
take a new start at it tomorrow.’ 

“When father arrived in sight of his home he 
saw that all was astir there, and that some of 
the neighbors were out in the yard. He rushed 
to the house to find my mother lying on a couch 
in a state of nervous prostration, while kind 
friends were doing all they could for her. 

“As he leaned over her he asked her ‘for 
heaven’s sake’ to tell him what the trouble was. 
She drew from her bosom the note I had left 
on my dressing table. It was as follows: 

“ ‘My Dear Mother: — Do not worry; I have gone 
with the man I love. Ruth.’ 

“My father staggered as if a blow had struck 
him. Looking about him in wild-eyed wonder, 
he exclaimed, ‘My God! what man? I say, 
neighbors, in the name of heaven, what man 
has my daughter gone with?’ 

“They stared in astonishment; then one 
coming forward said, ‘They do say young Wil- 


132 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ford has disappeared, and his mother was 
’round making inquiries for him.’ 

“‘My God!’ exclaimed my father. Then 
calling his man John, he said, ‘Bring my riding 
horse, saddled and bridled, and one for your- 
self.’ Saying this he took a couple of revolvers 
from a drawer in the book case, fastened them 
in a belt about his waist, and told his man to 
follow. 

“Some kind friend present suggested that if 
he found the couple married he had better not 
be too hasty but make the best of it. His only 
reply was a stare of defiance, and with pale face 
and set teeth he mounted and rode away with 
all possible speed. 


TOM'S REFORM. 


133 


CHAPTER X. 

The Race for Life with the Big Steamer— The Wedding 
— Reconciliation . 

“It was late in the afternoon when we, my 
Marion and I, arrived in Chester. We hastened 
to the river. Seeing some fishermen a short 
distance below the ferry, we thought it would 
perhaps be the safer plan to avoid the ferry 
and try to get some of them to row us across. 
On being requested to do so, they replied that 
they would be glad to, but as there was a large 
freight steamer approaching, we had better wait 
a little while. 

“Just then I saw two men come riding up to 
the ferry. They were my father and his man, 
well armed. 

“ ‘O, Marion,’ I gasped, clinging to him, 
‘there is father at the ferry.’ 

“The steamboat was coming in the distance 
— just a small portion of the smokestack was in 
view. My lover drew from his pocket a purse 
heavy with gold. ‘This,’ he said, ‘to the man 
who will take us across.’ 

“After some hesitation one man, seeming to 
grasp the situation, came forward smiling as he 
said, ‘I guess we can make it; we would have 
to ride the waves if we waited for her to pass. 


134 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Saying this he and another man jumped into 
the skiff, taking their places at the oars. We 
lost no time seating ourselves. 

“My father had not caught sight of us until 
we were well off. Above the noise of splash- 
ing oars I could but just hear his voice as he 
came running along the bank to the place from 
which we had started, crying, ‘Oh, my child, 
my child, come back! come back!’ His voice 
grew fainter and fainter; then I could only see 
him wave his hands above his head as he ran 
back and forth along the shore. 

“Now the steamer grew larger and larger; 
the oarsmen were working desperately. Like 
some great monster the big steamer was bear- 
ing down upon us, while with deafening roar 
she was blowing all her whistles and ringing 
her bells. Great crowds of people were gather- 
ing on the opposite shore. They came running 
from every direction down to the water’s edge. 
Our little skiff was rocking and tossing. She 
was all but on us now. I heard one man say, 
‘I guess we are gone.’ I was clinging tightly 
to my Marion, when the skiff gave a dreadful 
lunge. I felt sprays of water in my face, then 
a dark cloud seemed to settle over me and all 
was a blank. 

“When I recovered consciousness I was lying 


TOM^S REFORM. 


135 


on the ground, my Marion bending over me. 
I raised up and looked about me. Others offer- 
ed their assistance. Some in the crowd asked 
others to stand back and give me air. I made 
answer that I was quite well and had only been 
a little frightened. My lover had a carriage in 
waiting into which he hurried me as he whis- 
pered, ‘Your father is no doubt now crossing 
the ferry.’ Marion had before hand apprised 
the justice of the peace of our coming and he 
was in readiness to receive us in his house 
within a few minutes’ drive of our landing 
place. 

“We were immediately made man and wife 
and were receiving congratulations from our 
new-made acquaintances, when, on looking out, 
I saw my father coming up the walk to the door. 

“I ran to meet him and threw my arms about 
his neck. As he pressed me tightly to him he 
murmured, ‘Thank God for sparing the life of 
my child!’ And as my husband came forward 
holding out his hand, father took it in his own, 
pressing it warmly as he gave us his blessing. 

“That was a happy moment for me. We 
all crossed the ferry together and returned to 
my father’s home as soon as possible. My 
mother, who had been almost distracted, met 
me with open arms and forgave me, while she 
welcomed my husband as one of the family. 


136 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XI. 

Marion Wilford Gets into Bad Company — The Demon 
Rum Begins Its Work of Destruction. 

“My young husband and I began married 
life at the home of his mother, and she was 
very kind to me the short time she lived after 
our marriage. She passed away early the 
following spring, having been a sufferer several 
years from an incurable disease. 

“One day on looking about the place I saw 
beneath a weeping willow tree in the back yard 
two small, white marble stones, on one of which 
was the inscription, ‘Fido, born April 10, 18 — ; 
died December 6, 18 — .’ 

♦ ♦ 5fs * * jK 

“For the first few months my husband and 
father seemed to enjoy each other’s company 
so much that I felt sure my young husband 
was winning his way. Then suddenly the 
current turned. My father had seen Marion 
with company of which he did not approve, 
and had admonished him somewhat. I noticed 
that my husband was slightly incensed and I 
regretted very much that father had spoken of 
it to him. 

“At another time father had seen my husband 


TOJI'rS REFORM. 


137 


in the little town not far distant playing billiards 
at a time of year when a farmer should be rush- 
ing the farm work most. I very soon perceived 
that it was embarrassing and annoying to 
Marion for father to point out his faults and 
lecture him in the presence of his wife, and I 
felt sure that lecturing would do no good. I 
still had faith in the idea that I with my love 
and kindness could yet win him away from the 
path of error. 

“As time went on our visits at my father’s 
home became very rare, and while I still loved 
my father I loved my husband too — although I 
was gradually beginning to realize the awful 
truth my father had tried so hard in his blunt 
way to make me comprehend. I had given my 
love to Marion and he was my husband, what- 
ever his faults and failings might be. To see 
my father and husband disagree was heart 
rending to me. 

“We had been married scarcely a year and a 
half when our first child, Bennie, was born. I 
had great hopes that this would be a tie and 
responsibility which would win and steady my 
young husband. Already I had been living in 
dread. I had sometimes detected the odor of 
liquor on his breath, though I would scarcely 
acknowledge it to myself. I would not for 


138 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


anything have hinted it to him. I simply hoped 
and prayed. 

“Then it seemed to me that luck was against 
us. Our crops failed, and my husband decided 
that we must mortgage our home. He thought 
to get finer stock and that he could speculate a 
little and make money faster than by hard drudg- 
ery. I took in with his plans, but his schemes 
did not prove successful and in a few short 
years all was going from us. 

“My husband was now often out late of 
nights, and frequently came home far from 
sober. 

“During this time my two children that are 
now living, Tom and Cherry, were born. 
Marion grieved greatly over his financial mis- 
takes and seemed to try to drown his trouble 
by mingling still more with his old associates. 

“About this time the county fairs began to 
be organised in our own and adjoining counties, 
and my husband became very much interested 
in them. He had a very fine race horse which 
he took to the different counties, and each time 
he returned he was none the better off. 

“Father had allowed me to take my pet horse 
Pete with me when we first went to our home. 
My husband found by experimenting with Pete 
that with proper training he was a fine trotter, 


T03rs REFORM. 


139 


and although I feared that it would spoil him 
for a riding horse, I did not wish to object and 
thought that with the care of my children, I 
would not wish to ride horse-back much more 
anyway. 

“One time when Marion returned from one 
of those trips, I cannot tell how grieved I was 
to see my own horse Pete with his long hand- 
some tail gone! I could scarcely believe my 
eyes. ‘Oh, Marion,’ I said, ‘how could you do 
it?’ He did not make much reply; I believe he 
muttered something about ‘foolishness.’ Of 
course I slipped off to myself and had a cry. 
But poor, weak mortals that we are — how little 
good tears do! I had learned to my sorrow 
what a docked-tailed horse was. 


140 ONLY A HORSE; OR, 

CHAPTER XII. 

The Awful Delirium of the Drunkard— Mr. and Mrs. 

Osborne Die Broken-hearted. 

“One evening it was dark and cloudy. I 
greatly feared a storm was coming up, and 
Marion had not returned home. It was growing 
late. Many times I went out to the gate and 
back filled with anxiety and trouble. The 
children were asleep in their beds, but there 
was no sleep for the mother. I was worked up 
to almost a frenzy. There were flashes of 
lightning that once in a while lightened up 
the darkness. At such times I looked down 
the road almost distracted, lest he had come to 
some terrible fate. 

“At last I saw Pete coming bringing my 
husband home very much as he has since 
brought home my son. 

“I had a very hard time of it getting him in- 
to the house. I could get him no farther than 
just inside the front door. Then I hurriedly 
unhitched the horse and put him into the barn, 
lighted only by the flashes of lightning. Re- 
turning to the house I found my husband raving 
in delirium. I had never seen him that way 
before; I had never seen anyone in that condi- 
tion before — such things were unknown in our 
home. He was striking out where he lay in all 


TOAPS REFORM. 


141 


directions, crying, ‘There, there! look! they are 
on me; there is one on the back of the chair! 
on the table, on the mantle — there! there, right 
on me! on my head, a great bat!’ Then he 
would strike with all his might, exclaiming, 
‘Big bats, little bats! Ruth, look! the house is 
full of bats! Little bats! big bats! great bats 
like angry cats, showing their teeth as they 
grin and make at me!’ 

“I tried to pacify him, telling him there was 
nothing of the kind in the house. Then he 
would begin again, striking out with his clinched 
fists at the imaginary demons, exclaiming, 
‘There they are, don’t you see? One is taking 
my breath — there, one is sitting on your 
shoulder!’ With that he struck at me with all 
power. His fist came in contact with my face, 
inflicting an ugly, black bruise beneath my eye. 
For a moment I was so stunned that I was 
faint. I felt my cheek throbbing, but that was 
nothing compared with my anxiety for my 
husband. I thought he must be dying. I had 
heard of the awful death of the drunkard, and 
feared the worst. 

“In my distress I prayed for help. When 
hark, what was that? I heard someone coming; 
I heard horses’ hoofs on the road. I must call 
to them before they passed by; but to my 
surprise they stopped at the gate. Who could 
they be at such a time of night, and what could 


142 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


they want? As I hurried to the side door, not 
wishing to bring them in at the front, I felt a 
stinging pain run through my face and a sense 
of shame crept over me. I knew what anyone 
must think, who knew the failings of my hus- 
band, on seeing my face. I held my handker- 
chief to my face in vain hopes of screening it 
from view as I opened the door. To my sur- 
prise there was my father’s man John and an- 
other man whom I did not know with him. On 
seeing my troubled look they thought I had 
heard or knew something of their errand, and 
commenced telling me not to be so frightened, 
— that perhaps my father was not so badly off 
as was first thought; that possibly he would 
come through all right after all, but that I had 
better come to his bedside as soon as possible. 
I could make no reply but swooned away. 

“When I came to myself I was lying on a 
lounge while John was dividing his time be- 
tween Marion and myself — the other 'man hav- 
ing gone for a doctor. 

“It was not possible for me to go to my 
father that night, nor did I ever see him in life 
again, as he died from a stroke of apoplexy 
before morning. 

“For weeks after that I hovered between life 
and death myself. I prayed very much that 


TOAPS REFORM. 


143 


my life might be spared to raise my children. 
My infant child Cherry was also very sick, hav- 
ing suffered much neglect during my illness. 

“My mother did not long survive my father. 
After his death she drooped and would take no 
consolation. In a few months she too passed 
away. 

“Marion regained his health and was very kind 
and tender to me, regretting very much the 
past and making many promises for the future. 
He thought that if we removed from the place 
where we were then living to new surroundings, 
where he could form new associates, there 
would not be so much temptation for him, and 
that he would begin anew. I believed it would 
be the best thing we could do for the sake of 
our children to go where our past would not be 
so well known. And as the doctors had warned 
him that he would not live long unless he let 
liquor alone, I had great hopes that this time 
his reform would be lasting. 

“As for myself I had little care. I grieved 
very hard for my parents. I could see it all 
now. How kind and loving they had been! 

“I had noticed that they aged fast after the un- 
happy marriage of their daughter and only child, 
and I felt that I had broken their hearts. There 
was but one thing that gave me an incentive to 
live: that was to raise my children and try to 
lead them in the path of virtue and right. God 
knows it has been the one object of my life, 
and yet my son — my only son Tom — which path 
is he going to take? 


144 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XIII. 

The Wilfords Purchase the “Old Willard Home”— 
Death of Little Bennie. 

“After seeking awhile, my husband found a 
beautiful farm home for sale some three or four 
counties distant from where we were then liv- 
ing. It w^s a delightful place, although it had 
gone down somewhat, having been in the hands 
of a rather shiftless class of renters for some 
time. The original owner, whose name was 
Willard, had failed and been compelled to part 
with it. The place was known as the ‘Old Wil- 
lard Home.* It was a well arranged farm and 
had so much good fruit and beautiful flowering 
shrubbery. 

“With the property which my dear father had 
left me we purchased this place, to which we 
removed as soon as possible. This is the home 
we are living on today, and I am obliged to ad- 
mit that there have been very few improve- 
ments since, and that it is still going down. 

“For a few months I had hope. But that 
craving for drink — that terrible, horrible crav- 
ing that only those can understand who are in 
its awful grasp — was clinging to my husband. 
Soon I again detected that foul odor on his 
breath and he would often be spending his time 


TOJirS REFORM. 


145 


in the little town when the farm work was need- 
ing attention. 

“To make matters worse there was a drouth 
this first year on our new farm and our crops 
again failed. Wheat was the principal crop in 
Illinois at that time, and in a couple of years it 
had come to pass that we had no money to buy 
seed wheat and carry our stock and ourselves 
through until another harvest time. 

“My husband argued that we would be com- 
pelled to put a mortgage on the farm. I held out 
against that for some time, but he made me 
many promises, and said that if I would trust 
him this once more he would show me that he 
still had some manhood in him. 

“Well, I believed him as I always had. Our 
home was again mortgaged and my husband 
remained sober for a few months. My dear 
little children who loved their father — for he 
was always kind to them — would sometimes 
look up at me inquiringly and say, ‘Papa sick?’ 
when he would come home in that awful con- 
dition and they would see me weeping. 

“When my eldest child Bennie was taken sick 
my husband went to the town in the afternoon 
for medicine. It was a small, new town not far 
distant. Soon after he left, my child began to 
grow worse. Evening came and the fever 


K 


146 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


rose higher and higher. Time and again, 
with heart almost breaking, I vainly looked 
out at the door and down the avenue for my 
husband’s return. There were no near neigh- 
bors I could apply to for help. My two small 
children, Tom and Cherry, were fast asleep in 
their little beds. Evening had passed and the 
dark, lonesome night had set in. 

“As I stood wringing my hands in anguish 
and leaning over the little sufferer, I began to 
realize that I must have help. There was no 
more time to spare. Taking up some light 
covering for my head I rushed out into the 
darkness and down the road toward the town — 
at times running then walking, as my breath 
gave way. I thought to meet him and taking 
the horse and buggy would hurry on for the 
doctor. But there was nothing to be seen of 
him. 

“I soon reached the town and crossed the 
railroad. There was a small depot, then a little 
further on a whiskey saloon; then a vacant lot 
or two, then a doctor’s office. As I neared the 
saloon I saw, by the rays of light from the 
window. Old Pete tied out in front. 

“I hurried on to the doctor’s office. There, 
too, was a light and the doctor in his office. I 
hurriedly told him of the dangerous condition 


TOJiTS REFORM. 


147 


of my child. He said he would come immedi- 
ately. I rushed out of the office to the saloon, 
thinking, if I saw my husband, to inform him 
of the serious condition of his child. 

“As I neared the saloon door I caught a 
glimpse of my husband past the screen in the 
saloon just in the act of raising a glass to his 
lips. In anguish and desperation I seized a 
stone from the pavement and shattered to 
pieces the large glass window in the front. 
Then as I hurried on my way the kind old doctor 
overtook me and helped me into his buggy. 

“When I again looked at my boy his face was 
ashy pale, his head rolling from side to side. 
I watched the doctor’s face with bated breath 
as he looked down into the face of my child. 
He looked at it long, then finally shaking his 
head, said, ‘Nothing can be done for him — he 
will soon be at rest.’ 

“Ah, that was another hard, cruel night for 
me. It makes me feel faint even now as I 
recall it. Little Bennie passed away that 
night. 

“My husband grieved for his child, but to 
resist the cruel, wicked cup was now beyond 
him. He remained sober for a month or two 
after little Bennie’s death, then returned to his 
old habits the same as ever. 


148 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XIV. 

A Terrible Night in January — That Pale Face in the 
Snow— Old Pete Stands Guard. 

“One January day the wind was blowing cold; 
the sky was a dull gray with once in a while 
little dashes of snow in the air. My husband 
had business in the town. I begged him to put 
it off for that day, as I thought the business not 
so important but that it could wait. I had taken 
up the practice of accompanying him whenever 
he went to the town for anything, bringing him 
back home with me. 

“That day, as the weather was threatening, I 
did not wish to take the children out. But my 
persuasions were unavailing. He saddled Pete 
and rode off. I had begged him to come home 
early and not to go where liquor was kept. 

“I watched him out of sight with a dread on 
my mind and a heavy heart. The storm grew 
worse and more furious. By the middle of the 
afternoon the wind was blowing a gale, while 
the air was so full of fine snow you could see 
but a short distance. Anyone was liable to be 
lost out in such a storm as that. Again I 
anxiously watched for his return. 

“As the evening passed away and night came 
on I was almost frantic. I felt sure that my 


TOM^S REFORM. 


149 


husband was lost and freezing. As soon as I 
could get my two children off to bed and 
asleep, I wrapped myself in a heavy shawl and 
started out to search for my husband. 

“As I went down the long avenue there was 
a break in the clouds and the moon came into 
view large and full. There was now no snow 
falling, but a bitter cold wind was blowing, so 
hard I could scarcely keep my feet. 

“The farther I went the more certain I felt 
that my husband had lost his way and was 
freezing to death. In desperation I tried to 
push on with more speed, but my strength was 
giving way. I could not get beyond a slow 
walk. 

“Then I thought of my little children tucked 
away in their beds alone. What if I should be 
overcome — what would become of them when 
they awakened and the fires out? I know that 
often several days passed by, especially in bad 
weather, without a visitor at our home. A 
new horror came over me. What would be 
the fate of my children? I leaned against a 
large tree and prayed for strength to return to 
my little ones. 

“After I had somewhat regained my breath, 
I turned about and was starting back toward 
home, when I heard the distant neigh of a horse. 


ISO 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Listening I heard it again. Yes, there was no 
mistake; it was the voice of my horse Pete, but 
it did not seem to be advancing. I turned back 
and started on. Then I heard it again. With 
all my might I pushed forward until at last I 
could make out the figure of a horse standing 
in the road. What could it mean? 

“As I neared the horse I saw it was Pete, and 
he seemed to be standing by something that 
was partly covered in a great drift of snow. I 
hastened to that something and looked. It 
was Marion, my husbaiid, and Old Pete standing 
guard beside him, unwilling to leave his master. 

“There had been some foul play. His coat 
and overcoat were gone. I spoke to him; I 
felt of his forehead and hands, they were cold — 
so cold and stiff. Calling his name again and 
again, I tried to raise him. I could not give 
him up for dead. I took off my shawl and 
wrapped it about him. Oh, I never can forget 
that pale face in the snow! Kneeling by him, 
in my grief I clasped my hands together and 
raised my eyes to the heavens. I saw the 
great round moon looking down on me so cold 
and bright. O, the eyes and eyes that have 
looked at that moon! Eyes of sorrow, eyes of 
despair, happy eyes of the bride; beautiful eyes 
long gone from this world and forgotten. Eyes 


TOM^S REFORM. 


151 


of the soldier dying on the field of battle, 
while a vision of home flits through his mind, 
looks at the moon; the prisoner in his dreary 
cell, through the high iron-barred window, 
catches a glimpse of the moon; the homeless 
wanderer with a lonely heart turns his eyes upon 
the moon; the lisping, prattling little child in 
joy and wonder first beholds the moon. Even 
the savage stops spell-bound with reverence 
and awe to look at this moon. O, beautiful, 
beautiful moon, from whence did you come? 
Where will you go? What hand hung you there 
so round and bright? 

“As my dream drifted off into sleep, a sleep 
that would have known no awakening, two 
strong hands lifted me up from my dead hus- 
band’s breast and placing me in a carriage bore 
me to my home. 

“The next day when I awoke and asked for 
my children I was told they were safe, and that 
I had been found and cared for by a doctor who 
was returning from a call in the neighborhood. 

“My dear son Tom, you know the rest. 
Must I live it all over again? Must I again 
drain that bitter cup for my son?” 


152 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XV. 

TOM’S REFORM. 

As Tom finished reading his mother’s story 
he raised to his feet, throwing his hands over 
his head like one mad. He walked the floor 
with long steps and heavy tread. His mother 
and sister hearing him hurried up to his room. 
The door was standing open. He paid no at- 
tention to them, but went on in his ravings. 
His mother went up to him and throwing her 
arms about him, exclaimed, “Oh, Tom, Tom, 
my boy, what is it, Tom? Tell me.” 

“Oh, mother, I want to die! I must, I will 
die! A wicked wretch like myself has no right 
to live in this world,” he cried, sinking down 
in a chair. 

“Oh, Tom, would you break your mother’s 
heart?” sobbed his mother. 

“That’s it, mother, that’s all such men as 
myself are fit for, — to break the hearts of all 
those nearest and dearest to them. Would to 
God the necks of all such men could be broken 
and them exterminated from the earth like 
weeds — like foul weeds that they are; the world 
would be better off.” 

Tom sprang to his feet and again rushed up 
and down the floor. 


TOAPS REFORM. 


153 


*‘0, Tom,” cried his mother, “for pity’s 
sake — ” 

“Mother,” he broke in, “I see it all now as I 
never saw it before. My eyes are opened,” 
said Tom, himself giving way to tears. “Oh, 
the cruel, wicked cup! Mother, I knew my 
father had been a drinking man, but I did not 
know to what extent he had carried it. To 
think I would let the habit grow on myself as I 
have! It was far from my thoughts or belief 
that I would become a drunkard. I always 
bore contempt and scorn for such persons. At 
rare times I took a glass when among the boys, 
on special occasions. But I see it all now. 
It’s like some huge spider of the tropics that 
spins a silken cord so light and dainty about 
its victim that he does not perceive it, until he 
attempts to free himself or evade the clawed 
falcers with their toothed mouths of poison. 
Then the victim finds himself bound in any di- 
rection he may turn and escape is impossible. 
Little by little the taste for drink grows on one, 
and without noticing it yourself you grow to 
taking a glass more often than at first, until at 
last when you are aroused and try to free your- 
self you find that the taste or craving for liquor 
has grown to a huge monster that it is impos- 
sible to throw off or escape.” 


154 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


“O, my boy, is it impossible for you to give 
it up? — is it too late for you?” asked his mother 
in broken voice. 

“Mother, sister, hear me — I swear before 
Almighty God I will never again touch alcohol 
in any form if I die. Mother, sister, come 
kneel down with me and help me pray for 
strength to rid myself of this awful curse that 
hangs over me.” They kneeled down beside 
his bed while Tom prayed. He prayed so long 
and hard that his mother at last fearing lest his 
mind was becoming unbalanced begged him to 
desist and lie down on his bed. 

At last from sheer exhaustion he lay down. 

It was many weeks before he was able to 
leave his bed, but this time Tom’s reform was 
lasting. His mother’s story did its work well. 
Tom never again put alcoholic drink of any 
kind to his lips, and all his old associates of 
questionable habits he shunned as he would 
some vile reptile. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


155 


CHAPTER XVI. 

The Faithful Old Dog, Jacko, Is Shot by a Burglar — 
Tom Is a Changed Man— Sad Death of Old Pete. 

One night during Tom’s critical illness Cherry 
heard old Jacko barking very hard. It sounded 
like he were “baying” something. Fearing that 
a neighbor or someone in need of help was try- 
ing to approach the place, Cherry thought as it 
was bright moonlight, she would make an in- 
vestigation. As she hurried out she heard a 
man’s voice storming at the dog. The corn- 
crib was not far from the house, and there back 
of the crib perched on the top of a high staked 
and ridered fence was a man with an empty 
sack in his hand beating the dog back as he 
made desperate plunges at the man’s feet. It 
is the habit of the mastiff to seek to grasp his 
victim by the throat. Taking Jacko by the 
collar and talking to him persuasively Cherry 
led the dog away, allowing the thief to climb 
down the fence and take his leave — which he 
lost no time in doing. 

Soon after that on another evening. Cherry 
again heard the dog barking and started out. 
Just as she stepped outside the door she heard 
the report of a pistol. Hastily she stepped 
back into the house, saying to herself, “Oh, I 


156 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


am afraid someone has killed old Jacko. Oh, 
why will people do such things when my 
brother is so ill? I must not disturb him or 
my mother tonight no matter what they do.’^ 
Saying this she again stepped outside the door 
and listened, but could hear nothing more of 
Jacko. 

“Oh, I feel certain someone has killed my 
dear old dog,” said Cherry, with tears in her 
eyes. So saying Cherry re-entered the house, 
feeling too timid to make further investigation 
that night. 

Next morning on going out, sure enough, 
there lay old Jacko dead near the poultry house. 
Cherry did not know whether the man who had 
attempted to take the corn had returned and 
killed him in revenge, or whether it was someone 
else who was about the poultry yard with evil 
intent. 

Anyway, old Jacko had died trying to protect 
his master’s property. And all the family 

grieved for him. 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ^ :jt 

When Tom regained his health and went 

about the different vocations of life, it was 
plain to be seen that he was a changed man. 
He was no longer able to do hard work on the 


TOJ^rS REFORM. 


157 


farm, but he managed the affairs well, and that 
fall was enabled to make a good payment on 
the principal of the mortgage on the farm as 
well as paying up all interest. Tom was not 
only kind to his mother and sister but was kind 
to all animals on the place, especially Old Pete. 
He told his mother that Pete should not work 
hard any more but that he should enjoy ease 
and peace the rest of his days. 

During the spring and summer months with 
kind treatment and rest Old Pete took on flesh 
and looked well for an old horse, although, of 
course, he did not have the strength he appear- 
ed to have. 

In the fall as they were thrashing wheat an 
extra horse was needed. A hired man on the 
place insisted that the work of hauling the 
wheat to the thrasher was not very hard work 
and that Old Pete should be used. Tom depre- 
cated the idea and talked to his mother about 
it. She reluctantly gave her consent for the 
old horse to be used in that way for a few hours 
until Tom could interview some of the neigh- 
bors with a view to hiring a horse to finish the 
work. 

Old Pete was put to the wagon to help draw 
the bundles of grain to the thrashing machine. 
The man in charge was a coarse, heartless, 


158 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


thoughtless man toward animals and was always 
relating some big tale to his companions when 
at work. As he spun out his big yarns Old 
Pete kept annoying him by lagging back. He 
struck him with the whip again and again, but 
that took little effect. He then tried pricking 
him slightly with the pitchfork. Finding this 
method more successful he resorted to it 
whenever he found it necessary. 

The thoughtless fellow went on with his big 
talk, jabbing away at the old horse whenever 
he lagged, not thinking or caring where or 
how, when suddenly Old Pete fell down in the 
harness. Then he and others noticed the red 
streak of blood from the stack to the thrasher. 
As the men stood about the suffering animal 
discussing the matter, Tom rode up with an 
extra horse. On finding out the truth, Tom’s 
indignation knew no bounds. He immediately 
discharged the inhuman fellow, telling him he 
need never again apply to him for work. 

Tom cared for Old Pete to the best of his 
ability, remaining up with him all night endeav- 
oring to alleviate his sufferings, but the next 
morning the old horse died. 

There was a large oak tree growing in the 
far corner of the field where Cherry and her 
mother wished Old Pete buried. Tom had a 
large, deep grave dug, and there Old Pete 
found his last resting place. 


TO][rS REFORM. 


159 


CHAPTER XVII. 

Tom’s Weakened Constitution Gives Way — His Death 
Is More Than His Mother Can Bear — Cherry Is 
Left Alone in the World. 

As the autumn with its ripe fruit and nuts 
passed away; as the winter set in and the 
bright red leaves of the forest turned to a dark 
brown and fell to the grown, Tom grew weaker 
and weaker and his cough grew harder. Mrs. 
Wilford and Cherry watched him from day to 
day with dread. Gradually he went down. 

One beautiful spring evening when the apple 
trees were in bloom, when the fields were just 
beginning to green, Tom’s spirit took its flight 
to the unknown. 

As Cherry had thought and feared for months, 
this was more than her mother with her broken 
heart and health could bear, and she only 
lingered during the coming summer. One 
morning at the beginning of the autumn days 
Cherry found herself alone — alone in this great 
big busy world with no near kinsman to mingle 
tears with her own. Cherry in her grief and 
loneliness tried to think of some relative to 
whom she could apply for sympathy. She re- 
membered hearing her mother say that her 
uncle in the city had died. Then she remember- 


160 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ed her mother’s cousin, Mabel Osborne, spoken 
of in the story she had written of her life. Her 
mother had also told her that Mabel had mar- 
ried a man by the name of Riddle and lived in 
a town not far from the city, the name of which 
Cherry well remembered. 

Cherry wrote a letter to this relative telling 
of her bereavement and lonely condition. Mrs. 
Riddle received Cherry’s letter, and as she read 
of the death of her cousin Ruth, she recalled 
the pleasant memories of by-gone times and 
her heart went out to the orphan daughter. 
She also remembered with bitter repentance 
the reckless little speech she had made in her 
youth and inexperience about young men “sow- 
ing their wild oats,” and wondered if that could 
have had any influence on her cousin Ruth’s 
life. She herself had wrecked her own life by 
marrying the lover who was engaged at that 
time in “sowing his wild oats” and was still 
continuing in the same occupation, seeming 
never to have found out when sowing time was 
over — while she was earning their livelihood 
with the needle. 

Feeling a mother’s love go out to the orphan 
girl, Mrs. Riddle wrote a letter to Cherry invit- 
ing her to come to her, as she had no single 
daughters of her own. She also added that 


TO^^S REFORM. 


161 


there was a young ladies’ college in the town. 

On receiving the letter Cherry was not long 
in making up her mind. She wrote Mrs. Riddle 
that if she would allow her to pay her board as 
anyone else would do, she would come and 
make her home with her and attend the college. 
Mrs. Riddle had admitted in her letter that she 
was earning her living with the needle, but that 
she owned a small cottage home and had a nice 
comfortable room for her. 

Cherry with the experience and knowledge 
which she had gained in her youth of managing 
her own affairs, had a sale of all her stock and 
implements, then rented the farm to a family 
with whom she was well acquainted and felt 
that she could trust. 

With many heartaches and regrets Cherry 
packed her trunks and turned her back on the 
home of her childhood. When she arrived at 
the depot of the thrifty, growing little town, 
her mother’s cousin was there in waiting for 
her. 

Mrs. Riddle was a middle-aged lady still 
bearing that strong resemblence to Cherry’s 
mother in face and figure which she had borne 
in her youth. Cherry’s heart warmed to her at 
once, and Mrs. Riddle pressed her very tightly 
to her bosom as she had lost a daughter about 
her age only the season before. 


162 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


When they arrived at the little cottage, which 
was situated in the suburbs of the town, Mrs. 
Riddle showed her into a cozy room which was 
to be her home for some time to come. 

That which pleased Cherry most was the 
large south window, giving her so much sun- 
shine and light with a pretty view of the town. 
Cherry thought this was where she would sit 
and study and she would have a few flowers in 
the window, though not enough to obstruct the 
light. 

Adjoining the Riddle home on the south was 
a vacant lot, then next a cozy little cottage 
with a beautiful flower garden, which, in spite 
of the frost, still contained clusters of bloom- 
ing geraniums and chrysanthemums peeping 
out here and there. 

When Cherry had made herself comfortable 
from her travel and went in to the supper table, 
she met Mr. Riddle, the only other member of 
the household — there being one married 
daughter who lived at some little distance in the 
town. Cherry with her experienced eye was 
not slow to comprehend what manner of man 
he was — though he spoke very kindly to her, 
giving her welcome. 

Cherry had arrived in the latter part of the 
week. The next week she began her college 
life. She entered with considerable dread lest 
she should seem very backward and dull in her 


TOAPS REFORM. 


163 


studies. To the contrary, she was very much 
encouraged in finding herself well up if not in 
advance of those of her age. 

Cherry’s seat-mate was a bright, rosy-cheeked 
girl by the name of Grace Summers, about her 
own age. Cherry soon found that she too was 
from the country, and a warm friendship sprung 
up between the two girls. In one of their con- 
fidential little chats it developed that Grace 
was from the same locality where Cherry’s 
mother had been raised. On further inquiries 
Cherry found that Grace Summers’ mother’s 
maiden name was Rose Cummings, the friend 
and companion of Cherry’s mother in her youth. 
Also that Grace now lived on what was 
known as the Osborne farm, which was the 
beautiful homestead of Cherry’s grandfather 
and the girlhood home of her mother.' 

The father of Grace Summers had bought the 
farm within the last few years, having come up 
in the neighborhood a plain country boy, though 
honest and of steady habits. With prudent 
living and perseverance he had accumulated an 
independence, while Marion Wilford, with far 
better prospects financially, had allowed bad 
habits and drink to make worse than a failure 
of his life. Grace Summers also had a brother 
attending the college perhaps a year younger 
than Tom would have been. 


164 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

Cherry’s College Life— She Makes Warm Friends— The 
Beginning of Her Romance. 

One evening when Cherry was sitting in her 
south window and had been studying very hard 
for some time, she raised her eyes and looked 
out at the window. In the little flower garden 
over the way she saw a prim little old lady 
with arms full of aprons, sheets and such things 
covering up the remaining plants that had not 
as yet been taken in. Cherry reasoned that 
surely the old lady must have taken in all she 
wanted as it was growing quite late in the 
season. After considering the subject for 
awhile. Cherry decided that she would go and 
see if she could not buy a few flowering plants 
for her window. Laying aside her book she 
hastily opened the door and ran over to her 
neighbor’s garden fence. Introducing herself, 
she told the little old lady that she was making 
her home with Mrs. Riddle and attending 
school, and that she would like very much to 
buy a few plants for the window in her room. 
The old lady was delighted to find one inter- 
ested in her pets, and insisted that Cherry go 
in and see her bay window full of plants. 

Cherry went in, and felt that she was fully re- 


TOM^S REFORM. 


165 


paid. The window was full of beautiful flower- 
ing plants and vines arranged in a most hand- 
some and attractive manner. Everything was 
as prim and neat as the little old lady herself, 
who had such a sweet face and gentle manners 
that Cherry fell in love with her at once. And 
the love seemed to be mutual, as Cherry’s 
newly found friend presented her with all the 
plants she wanted and insisted on Cherry’s vis- 
iting with her at some future time. She told 
of many different flowering plants which would 
be in bloom at certain times. Cherry promised 
she would be glad to visit her often, and she 
kept her promise. 

I After that Cherry spent many pleasant hours 
with the prim little old lady and her flowers. 
Occasionally Cherry met the old gentleman, 
and he was equally as kind and interesting. 

One day when Cherry was seated among the 
flowers with the old lady, the latter fell into a 
reminiscent mood and got to telling Cherry 
something of her past life. She told of the 
beautiful farm home where she and father had 
spent the best days of their lives together. 
She told all about how it was arranged; of the 
long, beautiful avenue with elm and walnut 
trees on either side; of the porch with honey- 
suckle twining o’er. As the little old lady’s 


166 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


mind drifted off into the past, she seemed al- 
most to forget the presence of Cherry. She 
spoke of the wars that came on and of her 
son’s escape from the hospital; of his wander- 
ing and the blank that was in his mind so long; 
of their being obliged to part with the dear old 
home that she and father had built up together 
and loved so well. 

Cherry was so interested she could scarcely 
breathe as she said eagerly, but softly, “Your 
home was known as the ‘Willard home.’ Was 
your son killed in the war?” 

“Dear child, by the grace of God my son 
was spared and returned to his old father and 
mother,” replied the old lady. 

“And he lives here in this town or county 
somewhere?” inquired Cherry. 

“He lives right here with his old father and 
mother,” the old lady replied. 

“Why,” said Cherry, “I had supposed you 
and father were living alone; I have never met 
another.” 

“Well,” replied the old lady, “my son goes 
away to his business very early in the morning, 
only returning late in the evening to his supper. 
He is always at home on the Sabbath day, 
but of course you have not happened to notice 
him.” 


TOM^S REFORM, 


167 


“But,” said Cherry, still greatly interested, 
“how did he come to his right mind and find 
you again?” 

“Haven’t you noticed father sometimes lead- 
ing an old bay horse about the place with a 
long rope, allowing him to browse the green 
grass at the edge of the walk and road side?” 
asked the little old lady. 

“Yes, I have,” replied Cherry. 

“Well, that old horse is the pet and treasure 
of the household,” said the old lady; “he did it 
all. He brought back my son to his right mind 
and returned him to his father and mother.” 

“How like a story it all is,” mused Cherry, 
herself drifting off into deep meditation. “I 
have heard of Prince, but little dreamed of ever 
seeing the horse or meeting those whose lives 
were associated with him.” 

Then arousing herself she sprang to her 
feet saying, “Oh, I must go; Mrs. Riddle will 
have supper waiting for me.” 

Mrs. Willard insisted on Cherry’s remaining 
with them for supper, but the girl thanking 
her declined, saying she would not wish to 
disappoint Mrs. Riddle who was expecting her, 
and that she would be glad to dine with Mrs. 
W illard at some future time. . 

As Cherry passed the house on her way to 


168 


ONLY A HORSE: OR, 


and from school, she would usually see Mrs. 
Willard in the yard or at the door, always 
greeting her with a smile; or they would 
hesitate at the gate and have a chat together. 

As the season advanced and it grew too cold 
for the old lady to be much out of doors. Cherry 
would always see her smiling face at the window 
as she went by. 

One morning when going by Cherry missed 
the face at the window. On her return in the 
evening still it was not there. Cherry felt dis- 
appointed and uneasy. Had the kind old lady 
forgotten her, or was she ill? Hastily laying 
aside her books. Cherry ran over to see what 
was the matter. As she rapped at the door a 
voice called to her to come in. On entering 
the house Cherry found Mrs. Willard lying on 
her couch by the stove. Cherry anxiously 
inquired if she were ill. 

“Not seriously so, I hope, my dear,” replied 
Mrs. Willard, “but only a return of my old 
enemy, rheumatism.” 

“I missed your face at the window,” said 
Cherry, kissing her; “and how is father— I 
don’t see him?” 

“Why he is out in the kitchen trying to get 
supper,” replied Mrs. Willard. 

“Well,” said Cherry, starting for the kitchen. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


169 


“I will see about that. Why, father, you go 
into the other room and stay with mother while 
I get supper this time.” 

“Why, can you cook?” laughed the old 
gentleman. “I ’lowed a college girl wouldn’t 
know much about cooking.” 

“Well,” said Cherry, also laughing, “making 
biscuits for supper with a fork! Now you go 
right on back to mother and let me prove that 
college girls sometimes know something about 
cooking.” 

Cherry found plenty of everything convenient 
and handy, and soon had a dainty, well-pre- 
pared little supper ready. She spread the table, 
putting down three places, thinking she would 
remain that evening with the old couple for 
supper. She then hurried to the sitting room 
to invite them out, her eyes shining and a 
bright, rosy glow on her cheeks. 

Opening the door she playfully exclaimed, 
“Now come and see — ” but she never finished 
that sentence, for standing by his mother was 
her son, holding her hand in his and talking to 
her. 

For one moment Cherry’s breath almost left 
her. She had forgotten the fact that there was 
a son, and thought she was only preparing 
supper for the old couple and herself. And if 


170 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


a thought of the son had passed through her 
mind, knowing he must be somewhat up in 
years, she would have expected to see a middle- 
aged looking man with long beard and perhaps 
long hair. Not so with Charlie Willard. He 
was of rather short, stout build with face round, 
of healthy color and smooth shaven; with 
large, dark gray eyes that as in his youth looked 
at you half bashfully, half mischievously. 
Cherry bit her lips, wishing very much that she 
was at her room among her books. 

Mrs. Willard introduced her son, and said, 
“This is my young friend I have been telling 
you so much about. 

Cherry would then have slipped away, only 
the old people would not hear to it. Regaining 
her self possession she invited them out to 
supper. Addressing the son she said she did 
not feel sure that there was enough for him, as 
his “name was not in the pot.” Then turning 
to his mother she asked whether or not she 
should bring in her supper. The mother replied, 
rising and taking her son’s arm, that she 
would prefer going to the table at all times 
when she could. 

They then went out to the table, Charlie and 
his mother in the lead, and Cherry following 
with the father. The old gentleman asked a 


Tonrs REFORM. 


171 


short blessing, after which the mother poured 
the tea. The praises Cherry received from the 
elder Mr, Willard were many — everything was 
*‘just right and could not have been better pre- 
pared.” 

The supper passed off very pleasantly and 
they lingered long at the table. Cherry before 
returning to her books washed the dishes and 
arranged the kitchen neatly. 

The next morning as Cherry went to school 
Mrs. Willard was at the window. Cherry stop- 
ped at the door and made inquiries regarding 
her health. The old lady said she was feeling 
much better and was able to be about again. 

Cherry thought as she went to her school 
that morning how strange it was — such a short 
time ago she felt as if she had no friends, and 
now she seemed to be in the midst of the 
dearest of friends. There was Mrs. Riddle, 
who was so kind and sympathetic, while Grace 
Summers and her brother Howard seemed like 
people she had known always. Coming from 
the same locality she had and living on her 
mother’s old farm home made them seem like 
kin-folks. As she came in view of the college 
she saw the brother and sister coming to meet 
her. They often got together to study out and 
discuss knotty problems in their lessons. 


172 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


Howard and Grace often walked home with her 
or would bring their books and spend the even- 
ing. At all college events, parties, recep- 
tions, etc., Howard Summers was always a 
ready escort for her. 

When vacation came, they would not take 
“no” for an answer but must and would be to 
take Cherry home with them. After spending 
a short while at their home and then visiting 
her own farm and some of her old neighbors, 
she returned to Mrs. Riddle’s and her own 
cosy room. 

On Sunday mornings when she took her little 
Bible and started to Sunday school it often 
happened that Charlie Willard would just be 
starting to his Sunday school at the same time. 
They attended churches of different denomina- 
tions, and at such times they would walk to- 
gether until they came to a certain place where 
they crossed some vacant lots diagonally, pass- 
ing an old locust tree. Here there was a board 
sidewalk where they parted and took opposite 
directions. 

Soon vacation was over and school began 
again. Grace and Howard Summers returned, 
and Cherry and Grace, delighted to meet again, 
chose their seats together. 

Cherry was so busy with the beginning of 


TOArS REFORM. 


173 


her school work that for awhile she neglected 
to visit the old couple. When she did, Mrs. 
Willard was feeling hurt and thought Cherry 
was forgetting them. Cherry assured her that 
she was not but had been very busy. At one 
time when they had drifted off into a pleasant 
chat Mrs. Willard showed her a beautiful potted 
rose in full bloom which her son had presented 
to her as a birthday present, and from that the 
old lady got to telling Cherry of the beautiful 
shrubbery on their old farm home. She said 
that she often dreamed of the old home, and 
that the one ambition of her son’s life was to 
be able to save and accumulate enough to at 
some time in the future buy back the old home 
of his boyhood. Cherry buried her face in a 
bunch of blooming begonias as the color 
mounted to her cheeks, and she thought how 
far the little old lady was from guessing the 
truth — that the boyhood home of Charlie Wil- 
lard was also the childhood home of herself, 
and that she would be equally as loth to part 
with it. 

Knowing that Cherry had come from some- 
where in that part of the country, Mrs. Willard 
described the old farm and asked if she had 
ever seen the place. Cherry admitted that she 
had; then the old lady wanted to hear of many 


174 


ONLY A HORSE. 


things about the place — as to the condition of 
the farm and about the trees and shrubbery. 
Cherry told her that some of the buildings 
ne'eded repairs and paint, but that the trees and 
shrubbery were in good condition. 

The old lady was glad to hear this; then she 
sighed heavily as she said, more to herself than 
otherwise, that it took a long while and lots of 
hard work to save up much; that her son since 
they were again together had worked very hard 
and had been very careful, but was not yet able 
to buy such a farm as that — and feared he 
would not be so in her and father’s lifetime. 

Cherry not seeming to hear, cheered the old 
lady up and changed her mind by praising some 
of her flowers. On Cherry’s starting to take 
her leave Mrs. Willard insisted very much on 
her remaining j;o supper with them. But Cherry 
had some plausible excuse and could not be 
prevailed upon to accept the invitation. 

As Cherry went out at the gate the old lady 
stood looking after her, complaining to herself, 
“I don’t know what has ever come over the 
girl. Seems as if she has grown so kind' of 
timid and bashful like, and I never can get her 
to stay and take supper with us any more.” 
Going into the kitchen Mrs. Willard busied her- 
self preparing the supper. As she sliced the 


TOM^S REFORM. 


175 


bread for toast she muttered, “I don’t like to 
see that young Summers coming down this way 
so often; my old eyes are not blind. 

Then as the old gentleman took his accustomed 
place behind the stove, where he always sat 
while his wife was preparing a meal, she 
remarked, “Father, do you ever feel that dread 
as I do, that some time we will leave Charlie 
alone in the world?” 

“Yes, mother, I have often thought of that.” 

Just then Charlie came in looking a little 
grimy from his work, but so bright and greet- 
ing the old people so cheerfully. 

When he had washed and combed at the little 
glass hanging beside the door, they seated 
themselves at the supper table. As the mother 
poured the tea Charlie noticing a thoughtful 
look in her face, remarked, “A penny for your 
thoughts, mother.” 

“Well, Charlie, I have been thinking a good 
deal lately. Father and I will not always be 
with you; we are growing very old. 

“Pooh! mother, what has ever come over 
you? We are all growing old; that’s a failing 
everyone has.” 

“But, my son, I don’t like that young Sum- 
mers coming this way so much; and I never 
knew so sweet and good a girl as Cherry Wil- 


176 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


ford. Charlie, father and I would feel better if 
you had as good and kind a wife as I feel 
certain Cherry would make.” 

“Why, mother, what queer notions are get- 
ting into your head,” said Charlie, reddening 
to the roots of his hair. “Cherry is a mere 
child compared with me; I venture she is not 
more than half my age.” 

“What difference does that make?” said his 
mother. “Do you not remember the words of 
Annie, the wife of Dr. Strong: ‘There can be 
no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of 
mind and purpose?’ ” 

“Tut! tut! mother, that’s in a book; but in 
real life — ” then breaking off Charlie exclaimed, 
“Anyway, I would not for anything that 
Cherry’s innocent trust should be disturbed.” 

“I am not talking to Cherry,” replied his 
mother, somewhat hurt. 

“Come, mother,” said Charlie in a more 
pleasant tone of voice, feeling he had spoken a 
little severe, “what is that little verse you 
sometimes repeat: ‘Take no thought of the 
future,’ etc?” 

But his mother did not seem to hear him, 
and in an absorbed manner remarked, as she 
passed him the toast the second time, “Well, I 
don’t like that young Howard Summers, 
anyway.” 


TOAPS REFORM. 


177 


*‘I believe there is going to be a change in 
the weather,” remarked Charlie, making a 
desperate effort to change the subject. That 
was successful, for Mrs. Willard thinking of a 
possible return of her rheumatism had great 
apprehension of the weather and wanted to 
know the exact direction of the wind and the 
different signs pertaining to the tendency of 
the weather. 


178 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


CHAPTER XIX. 

Cherry’s Graduation — The Happy Culmination of Her 
Romance— A Pleasant Surprise for the Willards— 
A Beautiful Picture. 

Time slipped by. Commencement was near 
at hand, and Mrs. Riddle was at work on 
Cherry’s white graduating gown. Cherry 
scarcely slept at all. She was to deliver the 
valedictory address. What with the finishing up 
of her school work and the different social 
events, her head was in a whirl. 

Many a night as Charlie Willard lay awake 
did he hear the slow, gentle tread of feet he 
well knew. Or as a low laugh would reach his 
ear through the open window, a feeling of dis- 
appointment and discontent with his own lot 
stole over him. While he would in no ,wise 
have admitted the cause, a sense that he was 
growing old and that the best of his life had 
gone by crept over him. He felt quite certain 
that Howard Summers was a young man of 
very little sterling worth. In fact he thought 
it very strange that a young man could blunder 
through college knowing as little as he did. 

Cherry awakened early on commencement 
morning. The time of all times she had looked 
forward to from childhood had arrived — her 


TOJirS REFORM. 


179 


graduation day. And as Mrs. Riddle helped 
Cherry don her white robes, she was at times 
giving her bits of motherly advice. With a 
little jerk here, and a little pat there, Mrs. 
Riddle assured Cherry that she was looking 
lovely, if she did look somewhat tired. “And 
now, my child,” said Mrs. Riddle, “I feel that 
this is the time of your life. It does seem 
strange that so much should depend on the step 
we take in our youth. But one thing I want to 
say. Cherry, you may never meet another so 
worthy a young man — so devoted to you — as 
young Summers. I have made inquiries about 
him in every way that I can, and I find that by 
everyone he is so well thought of.” 

“I don’t admit that he is quite devoted to 
me,” said Cherry. “He is a very good friend; 
of that I am sure.” 

“Well, my child, I feel sure you will soon 
know, and I hope you will' make no mistake,” 
replied Mrs. Riddle. 

Cherry had thought of all times this her 
graduation day would be the happiest event of 
her life; but now, as the class filed in to their 
seats in the large auditorium, with an uncom- 
fortable feeling in her throat. Cherry’s eyes 


180 


ONLY A HORSE; OR, 


wandered searchingly over the large audience. 
At last in an obscure corner they happened to 
rest on the face of Charlie Willard. It had 
seemed to her that of late he had evaded her, 
when he knew she was so soon going away. 
She had thought surely he would come and see 
her receive her diploma, but had almost given 
up hope of seeing him there. 

A more satisfied feeling stole over her. She 
delivered the valedictory address in a most 
charming manner and with great credit to her- 
self. She received many handsome presents 
and bouquets, but there was one beautiful 
bouquet which she took up and fastened to her 
belt. 

Cherry had lately received an invitation to 
spend her vacation with an aunt in New York 
whom she had known nothing of until recently, 
^nd had made preparations to spend the sum- 
mer there. She expected to return in the fall 
and take charge of a school in the neighbor- 
hood of her old home, getting board with the 
people on her own farm. 

On the last Sunday morning Cherry expected 
to spend in the town, she slowly took her little 
Bible from the stand; then she took a few 
flowers from a vase, and stepping to the glass 
fastened them with a breastpin at her throat. 


TOM^S REFORM. 


181 


Looking at herself with a criticising eye, 
she turned sadly away from the glass saying, 
“I know he is not going to walk with me this 
morning. I feel sure he has avoided me for 
several Sundays.” Then putting on her hat 
she started for Sabbath school, walking rather 
slowly. When she had all but passed the Wil- 
lard gate she saw Charley coming hastily out 
to meet her. A bright red blush mounted her 
cheeks as she greeted him. As they walked 
along they both found it hard to keep the con- 
versation going. 

On returning, Cherry found that Charley had 
been waiting for her at the old locust tree. 
Cherry stopped, and taking hold of a branch of 
the tree began slowly stripping off the leaves, 
saying. “This is the last time we will pass 
this way.” 

“Cherry, do you think it is necessary to re- 
mind me of that? Do you suppose that I have 
not been thinking of the same thing?” said 
Charlie Willard, his face growing very red. 

“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Cherry; “I 
don’t suppose it’s much difference.” 

“Why, Cherry, I had supposed that we were 
good friends these few years.” 

“Oh! yes, we have been. I am going to 
take one of these thorns with me; I think I can 


182 


ONLY A HORSE: OR, 


use it in my embroidery,” said Cherry, pulling: 
a long thorn from the tree. 

“No,” said Charlie gently taking it from her 
hand, “you will leave that with me. Cherry, if 
I were young Summers — but I am not the 
‘Summer’ of life,” he added, sadly; unluckily 
for me, my name happens to be ‘Fall.’ The 
gray beginning to show in my hair are the 
autumn leaves turning brown.” 

“But I like Autumn better than Summer,” 
said Cherry, as she turned her face away from 
him. “In the summer of life the ambitions 
and aspirations are running with such feverish 
heat, reaching out to such insurmountable 
heights of fame and position. I like best the 
calm, gentle breezes of autumn, when the push 
and rush of life have passed by.” 

“Cherry, have you learned the art of co- 
quetry?” inquired he, trying to see in her face. 

“Charlie,” she replied, turning, and looking 
him full in the face, “do you suppose I doubt 
your honor and sincerity as a man?” Then 
as her eyes softened and fell, her meaning 
slowly dawned on him— that which he had been 
so far from guessing. 

And as they walked on across the lots it 
would have been hard to find a happier couple. 

Cherry never went to New York, but was 


TOM^S REFORM. 


183 


soon established in the little cottage with her 
husband and the little old lady and gentleman. 

One afternoon when Cherry and the little old 
lady were seated among the flowers Cherry 
said, putting her arm around the old lady’s 
waist, “Mother, don’t you feel just a little bit 
as if it were bringing a usurper in your place 
when Charlie brought a wife in on you?” 

“No, my dear child,” replied the little old 
lady, “I feel satisfied now; my mind is at rest. 
When father and I shall be called away, which 
cannot be long, my son will not be left alone in 
this world, and we will leave him in good hands. 
The only thing I regret is that we had to invite 
you to so small a cottage. But you know 
Charlie will soon be able to enlarge the house.” 

“My dear mother,” said Cherry, “did you 
not at one time tell me that Charlie would like 
to again be a farmer?” 

“Yes, I did,” said Mrs. Willard, wonderingly. 

“Well, then we will have no need to enlarge 
this house,” said Cherry, “but we all — mother 
and father, Charlie and myself, and old Prince, 
will again go back to the ‘Old Willard Home.’ ” 

“What can you mean, my child,” said the old 
lady, looking at Cherry in wide-eyed wonder. 

“I mean,” replied Cherry, “that the farm 
home of my childhood still belongs to myself 


184 


ONLY A HORSE. 


and is the very farm you have been telling me 
of at times — the ‘Old Willard Home!’ ' Mother, 
I have kept this secret from you until now, and 
as you and father have welcomed me to your 
little cottage, so I now welcome you both and 
dear Old Prince, that will always have a warm 
place in my heart, to the ‘Old Willard Home.’ ” 

♦ * ♦ ♦ :Jc * 

Howard and Grace Summers are each now 
married and live not a great way from the 
Willard’s. At times they and their families 
visit Charlie and Cherry and Charlie likes 
Howard better than he used to. Mrs. Riddle is 
also often a visitor with them. 

And one pleasant evening as Charlie’s old 
friend Dick Graham rode up the avenue to the 
gate he thought he had never seen a more 
beautiful picture: Old Prince had been allowed 
to browse the tender blue grass in the front yard, 
and the old gentleman Willard had placed little 
Charlie Willard, a child of not more than a year 
and a half, on the old horse’s back, holding it 
on with one hand. The little one was scream- 
ing with delight, while Cherry, looking so rosy, 
and the little old lady were standing on the 
porch among the honeysuckles laughing. 


X92 























f 




s' 


« * 



( 

I 




\ 


I 


« 





1 




\ 


t 


I 




S 



/ 


( 




t 


» V 


t 


4 




1 





V 








/ 


s , 



% 



4 


I 


i 


t 


r 


1 




4 




r 




\ 




4 


I 






* V 






14 J905 





.. .fjv V-.S‘V* ' ■ ' / 


■& ' ■ ■ - -Ml. 7 V 

* ‘ ‘ . / 1 . 


■■ <1 •■' 5 i 


:'• ::i 


fiwV-" "■ .v; '■ ^ '/: >■'• ■■•••,* 




/. v'. ;•• 


.V:i' 

• » 

' r 

.^V-. r. 

f 

. " A t . 




jji,l V' ^iC'' *.' 



. ■/ . 



■ 


m 


'. ■ ■ y'M 

" ■ ?P 




^‘ iv v, 




■> iv. ‘;',^-;'*y^"',S 
*1 .»>. 


» dt. • ■ d I ,j 

' ...» .'■ i. • :»-.■* V''^^^'/'/ 


ii^r 


. . yv "..» 

•’ 'J ' *'‘' '. f 

• 'I #» • 4 * 


t < 


>• 

»' 

' u ’** 


J 





« , 4 > 

•> « I 




%• 






■ . ' ' ; •' ' ; ' ' f t 


i H 


-.WV., •;;,' ..^S 

■■ '■ '"> 






^■'J. 'i .v>^.-'M;.V'.i^,ir>r.’l'''*-; 


!5'.-V » .- V 

>•• .s .•• ;. 

* '» f f- 


• .s 



'. i 


■* 

i 

•.5">,r1:ri' 


S-. tfflu 


•'/ .,'vwi 






■ /.♦ ■ P ■ : 

.Ki' ; ■; .• '.v 



,v 

^ . , s- 1 ( 


f'i .'! 

X^-': 

'x' , ' • 

" 

• '4 • 

• ' ■ *' , 

' >' 

^ t * 

■ - w 


■\ .:r 


. .V- .’f* 


v< 


... '. .f 


.. . i;?™ 

A V . . Ul/rS 






r'tV/iT-i' <- 


. ! 




' 

1 # 

iMt * 

ImKiC 


' ■ 1 ' 


w 

'.■') 

‘ 1 ^ )' 

■ • *1 • V 


K‘ 



-V^ ; 


WiyfA 

« » 

.l> /i 


^ Vv 

4 nm 


• j V'.V« A ■ jK.i#-. 




. . '' 


V'W • jY 




* ^ '*■ 'i • .. iT*.'* 0» , ' ■'^}4 


‘Z 

ii,' 


•. r 




■ * f 


. ‘i 


•'*T' 


■ii’ 

■yJffiVv 


■--' ■ ‘V ’ '' 


,' ,'<■,• ■' 


■■fC, f'l.t.' ■* V 

,M..' ■, :. ' 


' -M ■ 

■' . *\ .•- . * •'*''- "{’> -'ViV 

■•fci ^ ' .- • ’ • • v». 


/. ■; • ».! p 


jf.r 



- n ■ '.v^V- -fA.' 




'■'>v.V. 


i‘ ? 


'V' ■'• 




. . . . • ' ; ' s-v' ' Kf''y 

• t ^ . m 




w .' • . 

• •* *• 


^&r.-::»:. ■ i)-r :1 , ,7. 4 : 

ft*.* “ , ^nm I > ' . • . T t - V • . I » • “ ■ 1 • ■ • 

s,' ' . *» • • *.• ,*’7 •* *,''■' ' 

. 1 ,w« J * I 1 .A - P • . . . P . ' * . 




-. IV. 




V . 







-i 


.V- 


v’ ■' -,■■ ‘ 

■:^' '. V ..■■ , V ■ : ■ - ' ■' . ‘v. > 

' V .' . 'S - ’ r' 


" 'M- ;a7Ss.. -^s 

4 --rx- '‘-'•V- 

, • ' I. '. uj5n' 


' t 


: : 

1 / 


4 ' 

'V*;:/j 




I.* > 

r i, 

. , 0 . 


.' % / -{j ’ * ■ ■' ■ ■■■’•". ''''■^ ' * . 


. •■ • ■ '. VV h 


.i: 




l^.'£ 



'.• ' UM. 
f'- *'V 

*; .VM.f-' 

y,’ 

•• r 



'■ 'isK.'4*’'i*'-^i.'.. ■ --'’iJH'.' '■ 





™ 'W,' 









4 ^ tf' 

^ O. * • / 1 • * aO O M 0 ^ ^ 






* <?’ '^ . 


'o • » .V, 

f 7i^ C • - o 



bV 

* ^0- '^<^ '* . . o ^%'‘^*“'‘*f^'^ .. % 

A.V * 1^'* ^ V n * • o^ ^ 




.* '.1 





• ■CL^ 


♦ • I 1 • aO ^ ♦ fi « 0 » ^ o ♦ , 


V * 






/ v^ 

» ^ v' .1*”- O. ^0^ > 


^-vp/ 



.*• »- > 



♦ <0^ 

Vr O.A- 

^ t » « ^ ^ 

ox 

»• <j 5 °^ 

V f ’ • 0-- 

. .:K\V/k‘' 

• c^ '^r 

* -<L'' 








